"I grew up reading Stereo Review all through the 1970’s and 80’s. Learned a lot reading Stereo Review. Learned a lot about amps, speakers, all the different components. Thought the world of them. Really looked up to some of them like Julian Hirsch."
My experience pretty much mirrors that of millercarbon. One day in the late 80’s, I stumbled into a local shop that had a strange (to me) used equipment section with brands I had never heard of: Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, Acoustat, etc. I was off to the races and never looked back.