The early issues of TAS are interesting and fun, and not snobby at all. But after a while, TAS started getting an attitude, and I think it, and HP, are directly responsible for the prevalence of snotty know-it-all-ism that practically drove the general public out of the audio marketplace. So I find the 80s and 90s issues an unpleasant reminder of what a little twit I was myself back then.
I find the enthusiasm of AK for all sorts of stuff, even if it isn't state of the art, or whatever, to be much more appealing and human.
Clearly HP did have a good set of ears, but he didn't have much sense of proportion or humility. Nor empathy for those who had different priorities, and for whom listening to music didn't trump paying the bills and feeding a family.
I find the enthusiasm of AK for all sorts of stuff, even if it isn't state of the art, or whatever, to be much more appealing and human.
Clearly HP did have a good set of ears, but he didn't have much sense of proportion or humility. Nor empathy for those who had different priorities, and for whom listening to music didn't trump paying the bills and feeding a family.