To be honest, I do not see how aX has set themselves apart from the web. Their articles are not that unique or are so technically out there as to be meaningless. Don't get me wrong, I want this magazine to be a success for many years to come (yes, I have a subscription for 4 years), but they must do more to set themselves apart. I suggested, via their web site survey, that they need to offer a value above and beyond their main competition - the web. I would like to see a beginners' corner where a step is taken back and the basics explained in detail - both in theory and construction. I think they can also solicite audio DIY web authors to submit articles and the editors help polish and improve the information being sold.

Sorry about the rant, but I think there is more to the early call for subscription than meets the eye......Regards, Colin

I'm all for AudioXpress. They have some top-notch authors and I like their attention to detail and facts. So I just wanted to say kudos to them before I said anything else.

That said, check out Vacuum Tube Valley too. They're a sponsor here, so that's one thing about them, to be sure. But it's way more than that, they have some really great articles. I was really impressed.

I like magazines that are more technical than editorial. I like "hands on" stuff with schematics and tuners tips, stuff like that. So that tells you what kind of stuff I like, and if that's the way you are too, you'll probably like VTV magazine. Just my two cents.

Wayne

I will subscribe to VTV tomorrow, and I'll tell them where the recommendation came from.....Colin

I just think VTV is a good magazine, so I wanted to mention it.

I've been a subscriber to _ax_ ne Speakerbuilder for
about 5 years.

Back then, before it was integrated with Glass Audio
and Audio Amateur it was aloty less "slick" meaning paper
quality was low, graphics were low and even the ad copy
was pretty primative.

Their cover layout still needs work.

But I'm writing because I too mentioned specific things
like the beginners corner for them to create. My anaology
was _Cook's Illustrated_ where each time they say "cut up a chicken"
there is a side bar with the procedure.

I like print a lot more than web pages. Compare it to
going up a ramp instead of stairs. Also with a collection
of mag.s you can thumb through them not really knowing
what you want. With web search it's much more choppy and there
is (for me at least) a retention factor of near zero.

I remember things I've seen in old issues of _aX_ more
readily than most any websearch. Even a large bookmark
file does not have the look and feel of print mags.

If _aX_ had to somehow make a dual subscription to their
online material I don't know if it would be better or worse.

What I cannot understand is how Ed Dell can be having these
problems with a very secure subscriber base, if not many
newsstand sales. I first found _aX_ accidentally at a Barnes
and Noble and then subscribed. But I don't see it at B&N
lately.