How do you pick your gear? Tips and insights are welcome.

First, it takes a long time, say a year or two. YouTube reviews, assorted Bulletin Boards, on-line reviews, manufacturer inquiries. I am looking for reviewers who cut through nonsense. Eventually, it is a product that gets frequently recommended, fits my needs/wants. Typically, there is a lot of back on forth in my mind, and then suddenly there is clarity. That's when I order it. 

I bought a Holoaudio May DAC L2 based on goldenear's review, following his debunking of MQA. Contrast that with Hans B., heavy on the MQA bandwagon and going on about jitter (is that even audible?).

Bought PearlAcoustics Sibelius speakers based on assorted reviews and being intrigued by 1-way Voight tube design, plus solid wood construction as a wood worker. Plus the most wonderful interaction with Harley Lovegrove. Love those speakers.

Bought a Rega Naia package based on Harley's shoot-out, CheshireAudio, Sales rep. Was a bit against my original thinking (heavy vs. light), and in the end went for top of the line light. 

Listening to equipment is a pipe dream. Is not happening. At shows they do not have the equipment I am interested in, dealers can't set up true comparison systems. So it is a bit of a shot in the dark.

Recommendations by sales people generally is disappointing. They will only recommend what they sell (obviously), so you will never get the full picture. I bought a PrimaLuna 300 pre, but for power went with Pass XA25. The only dealer for PL is not selling Pass, so they will never suggest the combo. Was through Harley, London shop video, and a bit of California state bias (I live in CA, where Pass is at home), that I selected it. 

Looks are a minor component. E.g. Macs are out because they are the worst combination of ostentatious and ugly. One reason I selected the Pass XA25 is because it does not have meters.

I buy used well reviewed, highly regarded, like new speakers that I can get for 40% of retail. I live in a upper middle class area and have been able to pick up  3 month old Canton 9K speakers and a 6 month old technic sug 700 integrated using my benchmark %. Since I had a good system already (Adcom/Snells) I was in no hurry to up my offer and the sellers were interested in moving onan ideal synergy.  

Flexibility to some degree.....and since I wear aids in ears, ultimate performance for myself is ’Do I like what I’m hearing?" is the final arbiter....

I run an odd collection of items I won’t bore with unless PM’d.

Part of what’s amassed is to compare/contrast different speakers with regard to what my diy’s create....that, and it’s just fun to f’round with.

My best investment? SOTA aids in my ears. ’A Mac in my head, $-wise’ beats the jock off of one on the shelf I’d have to eq and room tweak to an extreme....

Have your ears measured by a Good audiologist.....You will be surprised, or at least, made comfy.....

*kicks soapbox aside* Look, I’m off doing The Odd, and enjoying y’all wandering the periphery of what’s possible....informative mostly, entertaining to varied degrees.

If considered a ’tolerable troll’, so be it....been called worse.... ;)

Go forth and do what'cha do, J

Read not only the reviews from thrustworthy reviewers but also users' feedback.  A lot of them.  Do home audition if the manufacturers offer.