Shadorne, I am not sure exactly where are you coming from but I think we are on the same side. My sources might not be as good as yours but to shade some light to those that are not exactly aware how audio press have changed in the past 10 years, here is a little scoop ( I am sure you are aware of this practice as well as few dealers and manufactures that take part in this website ).
I have said that some place else ones before. Press became a tool as much as TV, Media for those in control.
Don't get me wrong, there are FEW honest reviewers, but unfortunately they are not running the paper. Their hands in most cases are tied. In the times where $$$$ is main factor in making a decisions what gets to be review and what not. For smaller companies $10,000 to $20,000 a year in advertisement is a lot. And if you decide to make that commitment in top 3 magazines it can reach easily over $50,000 a year. Then - someone might consider your product for a review and you still have to kiss their %@$. If your are a loyal supporter of the magazine - you can count on good review. Even if the product doesn't do so well giving it a thumbs down is a NO NO.
As far as I know it is not a practice of 6moons, which is a good thing. Enjoy the music... I am not sure.....I hope it is the same.
So, reading reviews might be helpful but you have to read between the lines and draw your own conclusions. I personally, never made a purchase based on the reviews alone. My amps, speakers, CDP Apollo, preamp was purchased before reviews that were actually very positive and some of my Eq. wasn't reviewed to this day. Do I care?.....NO.
YOUR EAR IS THE BEST REVIEWER. Case closed.
