Julian Hirsch 1922 - 2003

[Audio72]

R.I.P
:(

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=7&article_id=521&page_number=1

[Holy Zoo]

Oh no!! :(

I grew up reading his columns/reports in Stereo Review in the 70s.

A sad day...

[grumpyBB]

:(

[fjhuerta]

Can't. Believe. It.

His reviews became typical SR fodder during the last years (he raved about some Definitive Technology speakers as being the best he had ever heard, or something), but his older articles were definitely very nice.

Also, he had a way with words... I truly enjoyed his writing.

[Casino]

Originally posted by Holy Zoo
Oh no!! :(

I grew up reading his columns/reports in Stereo Review in the 70s.



Same here. Julian was a very knowledgeable, competent reviewer. He was of the school of thought that amps with similar specs will sound pretty much all the same. Some agree with that philosophy, some not. But the guy was a technical whiz.

[Grant]

Originally posted by Holy Zoo
Oh no!! :(

I grew up reading his columns/reports in Stereo Review in the 70s.

A sad day...

Me too, but in the 80s...

Sad...

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by Holy Zoo
Oh no!! :(

I grew up reading his columns/reports in Stereo Review in the 70s.

A sad day...


So did I!:( A fine reviewer, serious about his work, but a quality writer, and objective---he tried to find the good even in some questionable equipment, but made sure you knew what to expect before buying....didn't read his later stuff, he was kind of an 'emeritus' type at SR more recently.


R.I.P.


ED:cool:

[Steve Hoffman]

Even though he said all amplifiers sound alike I'll miss him. I used to read his column every month in Stereo Review (actually HI-FI/Stereo Review)...

RIP.

[-=Rudy=-]

Wow...I knew he was getting up there and had retired, but I'd been a long-term reader, starting back around 1977 up through about 2000. Always a fair writer, and knew a lot about electronics theory (which helped me, over the years, learn a lot more about this hobby). A friend and I used to chuckle and joke good-naturedly, saying "Julian Hirsch would have liked it." :) Julian's son Steven Hirsch even wrote this about him:

People would ask my dad why it was that his reviews never "panned" any audio products. In a remark that spoke volumes about his personal philosophy, he would tell them that he'd simply prefer not to write about anything which was substandard. In his view, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Almost a lesson on life there. ;)

[Larry]

Boy, another very painful passing. We sure have lost a lot of people in the industry this year.:( :( :(

RIP Julian

[Shakey]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Even though he said all amplifiers sound alike I'll miss him. I used to read his column every month in Stereo Review (actually HI-FI/Stereo Review)...

RIP.

Yup, speaking for myself, I am sure there are things said none of us will ever live down but...

regardless, He did reach a lot of people and was a source of information for me during that time.

Pretty big shoes to fill,

RIP

[4_everyman]

I admired his writing. He will be missed.
Rest in peace, Julian.

[therockman]

For me personally, Julian was like a mentor. He was to me, in my formative years, what John Atkinson is to me today. I learned a lot from Julian.

[thegage]

Even though Hirsch became a whipping boy for many of the "subjectivist" crowd, it was his writing that I read when I first became interested in things audio. Regardless of his "all things that measure the same sound alike" stance (though I always found it notable that in regard to speakers he usually trusted his ears) his writing had a directness and an ability to communicate ideas clearly that many writers can't reach.

John K.

[JohnG]

I loved Stereo Review as a kid....it got me into quality stereo. I still subscribe to as much audio porn as I can.


RIP Julian!

[Taurus]

I grew up reading Mr. Hirsh's writings too. He always had an interesting--but sensible--way of looking at things. And he wasn't afraid to to say what he wanted when it came to audio foolishness (though I think different amps do sound slightly different). I learned a lot from him.

[T]

[Gardo]

Originally posted by thegage
Even though Hirsch became a whipping boy for many of the "subjectivist" crowd, it was his writing that I read when I first became interested in things audio. Regardless of his "all things that measure the same sound alike" stance (though I always found it notable that in regard to speakers he usually trusted his ears) his writing had a directness and an ability to communicate ideas clearly that many writers can't reach.

John K.

My sentiments exactly. Well said. Julian Hirsch was my Audio 101 mentor and I always felt he was my friend as well. There was a very appealing "kid in a candy store" excitement about his writing that would show through at times and communicate just how lucky he felt to be doing what he loved.

My greatest single debt to him is that his rave review of the 3D Acoustics 3D6/10B speaker system led me to these fine speakers, which I am still listening to twenty years later. His review said "they were immediately heard to be open and sweet," and because he so rarely gushed in this way about any product, I knew I could count on something special when I heard them. Many audio reviewers toss around their adjectives pretty casually. Not Julian Hirsch.

He's got a worthy successor in David Ranada, my favorite technical writer (by far) in S&V, but no one can ever replace Julian Hirsch. RIP.

[Dr Faustus]

Man, another part of my growing up is gone... He gave us all some good reading - whether you agreed with him or not.

R.I.P.

[Ian]

Very sad day, indeed. :(

[Adam9]

R.I.P Julian Hirsch from another reader who read you very regularly in Stereo Review in the 70's and 80's.