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I have built my current system over the years with the help of reviews from TAS and Stereophile. I think the reviewers are spot on in their praise of the products which I have laterly acquired - Bryston 28B monos(HP/TAS)), VA The Music(JH/TAS)), Ayre K-5xeMP preamp(JA/S'phile) and Esoteric K-01(AT/TAS). 

Of course, coming to the Audiogon forums here for opinions is of tremendous benefit too. Guido's insights on the K-01 and The Music helped me put together a most wonderful system. It's coming to almost 8 years for the Brystons, 7 years for The Music, 3 years for the K-01 and 1 year for the Ayre pre, and I still love them all, even more today than their very first time in my home.

Nowadays, I still wait patiently for the latest issues of TAS and Stereophile, not because I am looking to upgrade but more because they simply make a good read to keep myself updated with current technologies and also yes, they do entertain in the way they describe sounds emanating from the components under review. And we all know how big those egos can go.

J. :)

Correction: The Band used a CLAVINET with a wah. (Swine spell correction!)…a clarinet with a wah would be illegal in most states.

Right you are wolf. In The Last Waltz it was either Garth Hudson (who was the clavinet player) or Robbie Robertson who described the wah-wah'ed clavinet as sounding like a Jews Harp.

I photograph Architectural for a living. I photograph many luxury ($1,000,000 homes which is really expensive in midwest) every year. I have only seen uber expensive, TAS level systems only a couple of times. One was a Steinway system (yes the Piano company) in a large home theatre. 
Generally, when I photograph a HT, even the expensive installs, It's still usually a hi end A/V receiver. Lots of ROTEL systems in my area (probably due to A/V installers in area).

I do run into quite a few audiophiles and most are still using older 2 channel gear. Every now and then I will see a nice McIntosh set up.

I did recently run into a ZU/Yamaha A-s3000 set up that blew me away (it was playing while I was there). 

I really do miss the old Stereo Review Julian Hirsch style reviews from days past (Hirsch was a little reluctant to "knock" a product, however, I enjoyed reading his reviews).

S&V is a little too "consumer product" heavy, TAS, SP is a little too "over the top premium" heavy. I really like TONE AUDIO 
http://www.tonepublications.com/

I know some great high end interior designers, and some people with too much money and amazing homes (I’m not one of those people by the way…but we get along somehow). As with the general public, wealthy people mostly don’t give a damn about great hifi, and stick unobtrusive ceiling speakers all over their McMansions and control the stuff with iPhones…I’ve been an Arcitectural Digest reader off and on for nearly 5 decades and I’ve seen maybe 2 places featured in that mag with dedicated hifi systems that weren’t part of a large screen media room. A relatively tiny number of wealthy hifi freaks somehow keep the high end ball rolling, and that's simply amazing…Naim Statement amps? (just read a review)…gotta get me some! HA!