Talk Audio Online Magazine
A few words from our editor about the spanky new Talk Audio Online magazine, Adam Rayner…
Hello and welcome to the brand new Talk Audio online magazine. My name’s Adam Rayner and for the last decade and a bit, I have been reviewing mobile electronics products and installations all around the world, from Japan to ‘Vegas to Canvey Island, Essex. With a CV covering recording studios, rehearsal rooms and huge stadium-sized speaker systems for rock concerts. I was also production manager for Acoustic Energy loudspeakers. Our flagship was a bookshelf speaker that cost £700 a pair, back when that was a lot of money for small bookshelf speakers. (Still legendary and up there with the Wilson Watt.)
I moved to car audio as a natural progression. I worked with StreetWires, Altec Lansing, Cerwin-Vega and HiFonics, as well as Earthquake of San Francisco. I even repped for an accessories firm for a while, so I paid my dues getting worn shoes going around the shops for orders. So I know my stuff in the trade, I know my stuff with the kit.
I was given a chance to join my family’s profession (words in a row, for sale) by Car Stereo & Security magazine and was subsequently In Car Electronics editor of Max Power for four years. Seven years in the same job for Fast Car and now I’ve got my own show, thanks to the fabulous forum community built up here on the TA website by The Guru. I also review high end home cinema speaker systems and can be found on the web at Home Cinema Choice magazine’s reviews section, too. I wrote the first actual ‘copy’ ever published in Exchange & Mart’s 140 year history! (True, but still journo-humour.)
What we’ll be doing, my beloved web-monster and me, will be to provide a definitive source of information and product tests for those interested in the joy that good aftermarket equipment in your car can bring and also a simple reference those looking for the Right Buy. The best for YOU is not just the most expensive. It’s what I call ‘Applicable Technology.’ Even if it’s a Cheapie, you still want the best Cheapie, doncha? And if it’s sublime, just how delicious is it? The Big Boys Toys in this market can really cost, so it all matters. As well as feeding the needy-greedy car audio fanatic who is learned and wise in watts, widgers and thingummies, I’m hell bent on making the meaning clear. If it gets a tiny bit techy, I’ll generally translate from techno babble into simple English for the ‘norms’ so you don’t have to be a geek or a baseball cap throb-nodder to enjoy this. (Even though I am about as bad a case as it gets.)
If you read it here, you can rest easy in the fact that the opinion is a respected one, produced not by a hack journalist but rather an enthusiastic nutter who found a niche. Completely obsessed with all things car electronics, (and home hifi too, I’m afraid, especially powerful surround sound) I just love to play with this gear.
In time, we’ll be adding all sorts of things, particularly write-ups of cool cars, both the best sounding as well as the most completely hat-stand bonkers from Street Droppin’ and Bass Competition genres. The future is going to throb a bit(with utter grip and melodic control, of course.)