Dennis Moore wrote:
As for Stereophile's method of letting the reviewer use and write about
the equipment without knowing any measurements, I say bravo. The
philosophy is how something sounds in use is important. So doing it
this way only makes sense. I also say they show some integrity beyond
many other publications by also doing some basic measurements. And
publishing both.

Yes, I agree with this.

However, I begin to think the subjective review process is broken
(yes, I know many have said so for so long) when an amp this bad
in terms of power output ability can get a pretty darn good review.
The reviewer had to be prejudiced by the price, it is the focus of the
first few paragraphes. And also by the idea these things are 150 watts.
Then the huge size and weight do nothing to make you ever believe it
really is only 2 watts or so of clean power.

It is obvious that the subjective review process is broken because the
reviewers don't use bias controls, straight wire bypass tests, etc.
Publishing open ended listening subjective reviews is fine, they just
should be tempered by at least some modest attempt at objectivity. The
credibility of the magazine would be greater if they did this, but it
would be bad for business, which is exactly why it isn't done.