Integrated amps and stereophile ratings confusion?

I'd be caerful with any integrated purchase. Based on a Stereophile recommendation I bought the Creek 5250 several years ago, but as another here has already pointed out, integrated Class B is not in the same quality category as Class B separates. Most integrateds, such as the Creek, have diminished bass and soundstaging capability compared to separates in t he same Stereophile category or class ranking. Much "smaller" sound results. "Postage stamp sound" as one of my local dealers put it. I feel Stereophile is committing a grave injustice by not pointing out the differences between integrated amps and their separates in the Recommended Components categories.

My problem with Stereophile is not what they recommend. I have found them to be, generally, very reliable. It's what they don't recommend or review. That's the deal. There is a shit load of great things out there, that they will never review. Why? Maybe not taking advertising space or....forgeddabout it. I'm not going there. It's a crying shame, what's out there, that will never see the print or market they deserve.

If you do not have the associated equipment the reviewer is using the recommendation is probably useless. I am skeptical of the reviewer not taking enough time to review the equipment also. The ratings are good when you are selling the equipment that you shouldn't have bought in the first place

In respoonse to Snook, he is wrong about having asociated equipment.Especially with integrateds, they should generally have a sonic signature that one can generalize from, as Stereophile wishes us to believe. Hence the description of sonic characterisitics indigenous to each review. In addition, his point of view renders all reviews and sound descriptions from components useless if one doesn't have exactly the same associated equipment as the reviewer.

Your correct Triumph. I believe all the reviews are totally useless. You can read reviews from several reviewers on the same component and almost all have different points of view. The safest way is to listen to the component in your own room with your own components and let your ears decide.