Why do Audiophiles feel the need...

"...if you ain't heard it, you don't have an opinion..."

Didn't Gizmo say that?

I don't think you necessarily have to own the gear to opine. When I was assembling my system, the dealer was using a certain brand of speakers I didn't own for demo purposes. I must have listened to them at least ten times and I would certainly feel competent to add something to a thread. With a really new piece, even a "show demo" might prove somewhat helpful, although the conditions are usually pretty bad.

Good point! I always wondered about that...also I would like to hear from the designers not the dealers in the replies...

I think a lot of us have a tendency to overgeneralize. We have owned X number of tube amps or moving coil cartridges or planar speakers , etc. For most of us this will rarely exceed a number that can be counted using our fingers. From this limited sample we make broad generalizations.
I've been spending too much time and money on music reproduction since the late 60's ( and don't regret a min. or dollar spent) - part of what is so challenging today is that even if we limit ourselves strictly to the reproduction of music - there is a incredible variety of good to great sounding gear available.Further complicating things is the reality that within a system we are seeking synergy and I gotta tell you over the years I have repeatedly made one "improvement" in my systems that totally craped on the sound.Was that component "bad" sounding or just bad when used with the rest of my equipment ?
I will say that on this or any of the unrelated forums I frequent - if you ask for first hand experience vs. philosophical opinions - you get a whole lot fewer responses - and probably a whole lot more information.

I think that will depend on what and why. Like myself, when I listened to the Manley stealhead, ARC PH7, Nagra VPA and other phono stages. I listened for week to all of them together and seperatly. That is still limited experience. I picked the Nagra over the others. If I see threads about any for the items I listened to, I post to inform the person of my observations of that item. Even if it is not the item I desided to purchase. This also go's with any piece of equipment I auditioned. My opinion is only that and should only loosly guide the person. I think that is all they are going to use it for. If they use it for much more than that, good luck to them. I myself would never buy an item from anothers opinion. Unless it is a cartridge. I can't get anyone to let me take one home to audition.

If we do not ask or answer questions here or on other forums then where would we ask and that includes your thread.

It's the almost same as asking a sales man. How much time do you really think they get to listen to all the equipment in thier store. They don't sit in the room with the customers listening. I listen to thier opinion but do not purchase on thier recomendation either without listening for myself. It just narrows the field.

How do you deside what is limited experience? A day, week, month or more?