There are folks who cook using recipes, and those who cook using an intuition. You just know. My wife is the former while I'm in the latter camp. I've never used a cook book but I make great food. Same with stereos. I don't need reviews. I just know how to put the system together, while keeping cost in check.
a rant
after 30 years of being so enamored with stereo equipment - im ok now just listening to music
im no longer chasing - whenever i have bought new equipment it never sounded as good as i think the reviewer thinks it does. maybe 5% sounded really good and the other 95% - im still waiting for them to break in.
My fantastical brain wanted every piece of equipment to sound incredible. i think the key word is "chasing".
See, now tube amplifiers are all the rage again - it was class d about 3 years ago - it was solid state about 6 months ago - whenever i have tubes - i want solid state, whenever i have solid state - then i want tubes - then ill try class d in the meantime
Im just saying - this hobby is the "space mountain" of roller coasters - ya think!