@audition__audio: I have NEVER accepted cash or any kind of direct payment from a manufacturer or distributor and neither have my colleagues - we'd be fired unceremoniously by our publisher if we did. I once was asked how much it would cost for a review; I told the person we don't work that way and explained our system. Be cynical all you want but I can review audio gear and still look at myself in the mirror each day without shame.
@tomic_601: I suppose you can say I try to influence purchases, but I look at it as attempting to steer audio aficionados to equipment that is good value, offers great sound and is well built. If I hadn't been a real fan of good audio for as long as I have (let's just say a long time), I wouldn't do what I do.
As I've said before, I can't speak for any other reviewer. What they do is beyond my knowledge. I only know the criteria to which I adhere, and I've tried to lay those out in these posts. I'm just trying to clear up misinformation and, I hope, some of the incredible cynicism about reviews and reviewers I see on this forum