And we also know they write these articles to help sell product for those that give them the items for review. If a reviewer were to start saying this or that amp sounds the same as the others for a given volume level, they would be out of business.
Easy to say, and the obvious point, I fully agree. But consider that he mentions two amps by name as not offering the best sound for that speaker. And he effectively says you won't get all of this speaker if you don't have a high end amp. Most buyers without a great amp would look elsewhere at that point. Now, assuming for the sake of argument, that this guy is making an honest comment, I'd have to say he has much better access to information than I do - or, with all due respect, many of those here. He has the opportunity to compare this speaker on three amps, and this speaker to other speakers. That is not a luxury many of us have, and yet, it is the only way to really compare.
I'm not saying they don't push products - I'm sure they must - I just don't think the world is that black and white. I think there is some value to their comparisons. Hence my curiosity on this amp issue.
Having been ticketed by the hi-jack police, I did want to say that I compared Marantz to Denon when I was buying my AVR (almost 10yr ago!) and was very surprised that Marantz (a company I did not know) had a very solid product. The shop I bought my speakers from carried B&K, Marantz, and Pioneer Elite. They always pushed the Marantz as a tank of an amp that would satisfy everyone below the B&K market. Take the sales guy pitch with a truckload of salt, but there it is for whatever it is worth. (Yes, I bought the Denon based on (here we come full circle now) the magazine articles on it. And I love the amp, and am glad it was highly rated so I could find it.)
