What Rags carry the most review weight???

I agree with the above posts, from what I've seen (heard), most reviews depend heavily on personal preference and associated equipment. Even if a product gets unanimously good reviews it may not suit your taste, though this does help narrow down the list of components to audition.

I know you didn't ask for amp suggestions but I would add the Rega Mira to your list. I recently bought one have been very happy with it. I think a Mira is a little cheaper ($950 list) than the amps you have listed and would leave you more $$ for the rest of the system. Good luck!

I find Stereophile and Absolute Sound to be diluted by the companies advertising in them. It's a flavor of the month deal and Stereophile's Class A ratings are so subjective and lead to even more high end (EXPENSIVE) noodlings by companies to be in the elite number.

I've found that in the old format Stereophile was more weight to carry than The Absolute Sound. However given The Absolute Sounds new format in the coming months it will be a toss up. The number of pages and paper thickness will most likely be the overall determining factor as to which will weigh the most when carrying them to the trash.

-for the entire history of audio, if the reveiwer's, dealer's or manufacturer's lips are moving, he's probably lying. *Almost* everyone says they make the best stuff in the world, but only one truly can be (else they are using an alternative meaning for the word 'best' I was previously unaware of...).

Audiophiles have grown very used to this. While you might pay attention to something because it got some press, the bottom line is you have to hear in your home to really know for sure.

Trust *your* ears, no-one else's!!

I really like What HiFi. Their hearing must be like mine because their descriptions match what I hear in stores. Unlike Stereophile which leaves me confused and feeling like I need to spend more money. For example, the latest buzz on M-F upsampling DAC which, thankfully, people on this site have pretty much exposed it for being a scam.
So why do I like What HiFI:
1) Direct comparison reviews eg. B&W 602's, Triangle Titus, KEF, Acoustic Energy, etc. Whereas Stereophile won't do comparison reviews and when they do compare will compare to older stuff like Mission (can't recall the model) or $1,000 Alon Circe. Not the latest and greatest.
2) Actually build systems like "The best L500 system".
3) They regularly bash stuff.
4) Recommended components in every issue.
5) People write in with their system and What Hifi suggest what to improve.
I do think they have some unfair biases towards Mission speakers and they play games like giving Marantz ST-17 five stars but conveniently ignore how good the ST-6000 is for 1/4 the price or less.
Also they only review relatively cheap stuff and U.S. mags review expensive stuff but maybe because people in US spend more. Should I say maybe Brit's are more savvy and aren't conned into wasting their money on imagined improvements?
So find a mag that matches your taste in music. Bottom line for me is What HiFi helps cure my audio nervosa while Stereophile gives me the disease.