I consider myself lucky to have been introduced to high end stereo in the 80's when there were brick and mortar stores aplenty in NYC. I got to listen to a wide variety of equipment and understand what I liked and didn't. Reviews didn't really have much impact upon me, I just knew what sounded good to me.
Fast forward to the 2010's when I finally had some money to spend, and knowing what I liked helped me obtain the system I always dreamed of (and buy it used).
Bob