Cary in bed with Stereophile?????

Reviewers keep their jobs by being excited and turned-on by the things they are asked to review. Could you imagine a music reviewer, for example, who actually told the TRUTH about 80% of the rock and pop music that comes out these days? Needless to say, that reviewer would be out on his tail, with the editor saying, "Why should we hire someone as a music reviewer who doesn't like music?"

Same with hi-fi reviewers. They are paid not to review, but to enthuse and like if at ALL possible. Someone who is too critical, too blase about iterations of products or design ideas that yield too little value for the buck, or someone who only raves about the rare genuine "great" product, I would guess they are often seen as too downbeat, too negative-minded.

I never trust the reviewers, or rather, I take them with a grain of salt. But since when would any of us "trust" someone who has a money-trail, however indirect, leading back to the manufacturer and industry itself?

I must say, this is why a dealer can NEVER be replaced. Because a dealer (a good one) of course tries to give advice and such, but they also just simply let you listen, and that after all is worth more than any amount of dubious ink in industry rags.

pcanis

Abecollins is right. "System synergy" if you will, is vital to any great sounding system. That being said, and even if reviewers are not going to be overly critical of equipment they are writing about, I highly doubt that anyone at Stereophile (or any other reputable magazine for that matter) would risk their reputation by stating that an amplifier is "the most involving and communicative amplifier I've heard" if it wasn't very competent gear. What it may come down to is a matter of taste. It can't be said enough, that audio equipment is like cooking, you need to find out what you like. You may not like Cajun, but love Italian, hence you may not like the "Cary sound," but do like what you get from your gear. As a final thought, look at the reviews on Audioreview.com--they are split, with little middle ground. At any rate, best of luck finding your favorite "flavor".

Happy listening,

Gcarbone

Matching is key as well as your taste.Though tube pre's/amps vary in type of sound and quality/value so is the case for solid state.But truisms can generally be established .SS gear gives more clear,less rolled off highs and tighter bass whereas the upperharmonic distortion we like present in tubes makes the mids more harmonically rich.But you may like one or the other more.Plus you speakers may work well with one or the other.Lastly just becauseyou like tubes more like I do does not mean that their isn't crappy tube gear being built.Lot's of factors based on taste and compatability.

Cary does'nt need to get in bed with anybody as their reputation speaks for itself. Sphile on the other hand is like any other magazine-willing to go to bed with any body, any time, any where-just don't call them whores as it tend to ruffle their feathers.