wrote in message
ups.com...
I guess a good followup question would be -- can you buy sound
reproduction components based on specs alone and expect the result to
match the specs?

No.

I'm thinking that if that's true, then Consumer
Reports recommendations are as good as any, and better than a
salesman's.

Oh god no. Consumer Reports is good for some things, but not what you're
looking for. Unless you truly can't spend more than $700 for your entire
system. Then they might actually be reasonable.