What reviews do you trust if any?

I call the Audiophile Hotline

There is no substitute for using your own ears in your own system.

I take everyone's opinion, no matter who they are with a grain of salt.

Synergy with one's system is paramount.

this is true...

hi sarcher30:

your statement is axiomatic.

what do you do if a component of interest is unavailable. that is, there is no source from which one can "borrow" it ?

Hi Mrtennis, If it's something you really want to try you just have to take your chances. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you get burned. Such is life.

Reviews are useful for finding out about new products to check out and hopefully give you a clue about their performance in the reviewers system. They could and probably will perform differently in your system depending on many variables.