# The Absolute Sound — user reviews > 63 indexed App Store user reviews of The Absolute Sound by Nextscreen Services, LLC, rated 2.80/5 from 93 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-absolute-sound/id966988916/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-absolute-sound/id966988916.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 41 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 48 ## What do users think of The Absolute Sound? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Great magazine content **Cons** - 🐛 App constantly not working - 🐛 Subscription issues - 🐛 Lost access to purchased issues - 🐛 Login problems - 🐛 App crashes - 🐛 Perpetual spinning wheel - 🐛 Poor customer support - 🐛 App not updated - 🐛 Issues disappear - 🐛 Cannot restore purchases - 🐛 App is slow - 🐛 Flashes between pages - 🐛 Gets stuck on a page - 🐛 Repeatedly sends to advertisers - 🐛 Requires credentials, won't accept Apple account info - 🐛 No means to reset password - 🐛 No means to connect to publisher - 🐛 App looks amateurish - 🐛 Cannot download issues - 🐛 App is a scam - 🐛 Stealing money - 🐛 "Updating library" never finishes - 🐛 App won't open on new iPad Pro - 🐛 App doesn't remember subscriptions - 🐛 Request for advice ignored **Commonly reported bugs** - Perpetual spinning wheel - App not working - Constantly loses issues - Latest update removed current issues - App forgot subscription - Lost decades of issues - Cannot restore purchases after update - Cannot login to subscription - Stopped working suddenly - Username and password no longer work - No support available - Cannot access issues - Blue background engages on page turn - Terrible viewer - Slow loading - Refuses to load new issue - Flashes between pages - Gets stuck on a page - Repeatedly sends to advertisers - Requires credentials, won't accept Apple account info - No means to reset password - No means to connect to publisher - Looks and feels amateurish - App crashed again - App not updated for 2 years - App updated automatically, does not allow restore of app store/iTunes subscription - New update locks subscription out - Login not recognized - New version is useless - Cannot access any issues from several years of subscribing - Suddenly don't have access to content - Cannot log in - App will not allow download of purchased mags - App crashes - App does not work - Instantly crashes - App keeps updating library - App won't work - App no longer works - Lost all previous issues - Updating library - never finishes - Hangs on "updating library" - App won't open on new iPad Pro - App crashes when trying to open a new issue - Cannot access purchased mags - App does not remember subscriptions - Request for advice ignored **Most requested features** - Fix the app - Make the app work - Restore access to purchased issues - Allow restoration of iTunes purchases - Fix the perpetual spinning wheel - Fix the login issues - Improve customer support - Update the app - Fix the flashing text on page load - Remove the blue background on page turn - Provide a way to reset password - Provide a way to connect to publisher - Make the app less amateurish - Allow downloading of purchased magazines - Address the "updating library" issue - Fix app crashes - Allow access to old magazines - Fix app not opening on new devices - Make the app remember subscriptions - Respond to help requests ## Newest reviews (17 of 63) ### 1/5 — I can’t login my own subscription!!! *2022-08-16, version 8.0.0* Very dissapointing update compared to previous TAS app !!! ### 1/5 — Crappy software *2022-08-12, version 8.0.0* Cannot restore issues, no idea what’s going on! ### 1/5 — Awful *2022-08-06* I have been a subscriber for several years. My subscription auto renewed this week and I find that I no longer have access to the app. I now find I have to use zinio. Not one email about the change. The magazine I like, the app and support is awful. ### 1/5 — Stopped working suddenly *2022-08-04, version 8.0.0* The app used to work really well. Suddenly it looks completely different, my username and password no longer work, and I am unable to access my paid subscription. I know my credentials are correct because they are saved in a password manager and they still work to access my subscription information on their website. There is no support available and no phone number to call. I sent an email, but I’ll be shocked if I hear anything. Best case, they say 2 business days for each response. Why make reading a magazine so difficult? I suppose I’ll just have to cancel my subscription even though I enjoy the magazine. I don’t need to pay for another hassle in my life. ### 1/5 — Cannot access issues! *2022-07-28, version 8.0.0* Cannot access issues. No way to restore purchases. ### 1/5 — Terrible viewer *2021-05-17, version 7.0.11* This viewer is terrible! I can’t understand why a prestigious high and publication uses such a low end platform. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2021-04-10* This is, by far, the worst magazine reading app I have. It is slow, often refuses to load a new issue for days, flashes between pages, gets stuck on a page then repeatedly sends you to advertisers, on and on. TAS should be ashamed of itself for using such an app. ### 1/5 — Good Magazine, Bad App *2021-03-31, version 7.0.11* App is useless. It requires credentials and won’t accept Apple account info. Customer service on TAS website doesn’t understand the problem. Cancelled my subscription. ### 1/5 — not working with active subscrition *2021-02-07, version 7.0.11* Since years I had a suscription. Then there was an update and I had no longer access to everything. I wrote them, but received no answer. Bugs can happen. No reaction not. Bye ### 1/5 — Every page flashes on load *2020-07-12* The most recent update has serious issues .. I am a long time subscriber and the new update is very frustrating. Each page on load flashes with all the text highlighted. Please fix this as it really affects reading experience. Unlikely to continue subscription if this continues. ### 1/5 — Shockingly poor app *2020-06-20, version 7.0.11* Would give it zero stars if I could. No means to reset password; no means to connect to the publisher; looks and feels completely amateurish. Use Stereophile as a model to aspire to ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2020-05-22* The worst app, I don’t understand why need to spend money in a new refresh, brand image and navigation...always the same actions in marketing departments .. ### 1/5 — Congratulations.. you created the worst app in history! *2020-05-13, version 7.0.8* I have been a subscriber through Apple for years. With this new “major” app upgrade you can no longer access anything... suspect these idiots simply want to avoid paying the Apple fee and make you log in directly.. sent 3 emails.. no reply..pitiful! ### 1/5 — Doesn't work anymore with an iTunes subscription *2020-05-13, version 7.0.8* Dear Sirs, I have a digital subscription to your magazine on iPad, bought via iTunes Store. Last week I updated my TAS app on the iTunes store. The new app does not have a way to restore my purchases from the present and past subscriptions, so I cannot read the magazine anymore. The only way is to logon to a subscription bought from TAS, that I do not have. It is the fifth time that I write to you, please help! I HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION AND I CANNOT READ ANYMORE TAS MAGAZINE! ### 1/5 — 7.0.8 subscription fail *2020-05-12, version 7.0.8* Can’t find a way to “restore” my App Store based subscription - only presented with a login screen, but I’ve never logged in to this app before and don’t have a username/password, as my subscription was through Apple. Current username and password to the TAS website doesn’t work either. There is no link to real “Help”, just a tutorial on navigation. NO HELP FORTHCOMING via their website, after multiple weeks and messages. At this point, after years as a loyal subscriber, I can’t recommend. ### 1/5 — Not working with active subscription *2020-05-12, version 7.0.8* Since the update it is not possible to read any issue although my subscription via Apple was recently renewed. Same thing as with stereophile a year ago. Now I have paid for 12 month and I am afraid I will not be able to read anything anymore. Stereophile never worked it out...maybe they will, but I guess they just won‘t care. ### 1/5 — Totally flawed application *2020-05-11, version 7.0.8* Your new application is flawed and it is deceitful to advertisers. I enclose a copy of the letter I sent to iTunes: Although I haven’t received any response from the developer I don’t understand why iTunes subscription managers cannot address the situation by contacting the developers and asking why they have not made available to subscribers of the magazine through iTunes instructions and/or commands that would allow them to restore their subscription. One of the additional sad aspects of this flawed attempt at improving an unneeded application is that they are really hurting their loyal subscribers and the manufacturers of the products that advertise in the magazine by not allowing subscribers to access and check older issues of the magazine to see reviews of products that the subscribers may be interested in purchasing. If I don’t have access to those past issues I will have lost information that I paid for and for which by just receiving a reimbursement of the money I paid for the present subscription would not be enough. It is totally crazy for iTunes not to protect its clients from this abusive behavior from the publishers of the magazine. I still hope that iTunes makes a formal request to demand from the publishers and developers of the magazine a swift response that would allow the readers to have access to past issues of the magazines for which they have paid and to correct the flaw in the application that also does not allow current digital subscribers to restore their purchases. Please, do your best to act as requested, Subscriber ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — App Not Working! *2025-01-03, version 12711.1.5* Honestly folk, I love TAS but I’m missing out because I cannot access the content. After working for a couple of months, I’m back the perpetual spinning wheel! ### 1/5 — Again? *2023-11-12* As I predicted, when TAS switched to this platform it would eventually fail as it did with Stereophile. Now I have to unsubscribe again. ### 1/5 — Constantly loses issues *2023-11-10* Didn’t work at for a year…. Then worked fine for a few months, but logged in the other day and all but one issue had disappeared. Says I have a subscription, but does not allow me to access any issues and invites me to purchase a subscription. ### 1/5 — Caviar content served in a dirty ashtray *2023-08-10* The latest update has removed the most current 5 issues from my library, and no amount of restoring iTunes purchases or force synching will make them available without purchasing them again, and I am a subscriber. It would not be as painful to see this if the content was terrible, but the Absolute Sound is and always has been the best audio magazine available. ### 1/5 — C’mon absolute sound, you can do better than this *2023-02-05* One star because zero is not an option. Long time subscriber and can’t read the mag. No issues in my library…. TAS knows it does not work but still drags their feet on getting it fixed. ### 1/5 — Absolute Disaster *2022-12-22* The magazine is good but the app and support is useless. The app worked for zeros but died 6 months ago. Refuses to restore my subscription, refuses to download new or old magazines. Not much else to say. Avoid it. ### 1/5 — Nice mag. Terrible app. Clueless customer service. Avoid. *2022-12-06* I bought a subscription through the App Store and it worked well for 9 months. All of a sudden the app “forgot” that I am a paid subscriber and has locked me out. So far trying to get the problem resolved through The Absolute Sound/Nextscreen Services (the developer) has been futile. Seems there may be no tech support there for app problems. Prior to that I subscribed through TAS directly for many years with countless dozens of issues in my library. And now, since this current problem, every single issue has disappeared. TAS claims that my email address, the only one I ever used with them, is not associated with any subscription. Their response to multiple inquiries regarding my lost issues amounts to “too bad, stop bugging us”. Save your money. ### 1/5 — Update is a disaster *2022-12-05* Since the last update, I have lost decades of issues! Yes, decades that I had download it or no longer available to me. I have been a subscriber since issue one back in the 70s and every digital issue with the exception of the last couple of years is now gone. Harry Pearson would be spinning his grave if he knew how this is being managed now!! ### 1/5 — Restore purchases?? *2022-08-28, version 8.0.0* Again, after an update, can’t restore purchases. It was the same two years ago. When will I get access to my content? 😤 ### 1/5 — Lousy! *2022-08-18* I have had an iTunes subscription for years, and suddenly I can’t restore my purchase. ## Most praised reviews (4 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Aggravating *2021-11-23* Every time I turn the page that blue background engages, enough already, come on developers, take it off, it doesn’t need to be there!!! ### 5/5 — Audio Nirvana *2021-02-13* The Absolute Sound is second to none. The App works fantastically. ### 5/5 — New update is perfect *2019-09-18* This app is the best thing ever you can read all the articles really well and I love it. It’s so clear and perfectly formatted. All alignments are correct. All buttons work. All everything works. I can’t wait to get up in the morning and find the new magazine. I am in love 5/5 stars best app ever best developer ever. He is my dad ### 4/5 — Now working *2020-05-14, version 7.0.11* Restore included now. Only 4 stars, because the old magazines are not shown any more. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-05.*