Favorite reviewer?

J. Gordon Holt, founder of Stereophile. He stated

"If the midrange isn’t ‘right’ nothing else matters" See this

and

"That so-called laid-back middle range (now known as the "BBC dip," after their design of the LS3/5A) has become an epidemic among high-end loudspeakers. Richness and unctiousness are In, realism is absolutely Out. "

Those statements were in 1985.

Sad to see he writes so very little now, although, reportedly, he has more time to enjoy his ATC SCM 50 ASL at home.(yet another quite shameless plug for my favorite mid range)

BUT it would be irresponsible in my opinion to NOT remind the reader that brand-Y- which might be homely looking in comparison- for a fraction of the cost, will give you 95% of the performance. i can't remember names that well,but take out some older stereophiles (the little ones), and you may see what i'm talking about. high-value gear was often high-lighted "with a big flashing arrow".

That was Gordon Holt's influence I suspect (founder of Stereophile). They changed ownership and he left...advertisers/ad budget may have had something to do with it, who knows. Today, more than ever, a reviewer MUST be able to hear the improvements of stratospheric prices and this years model versus last years. Furthermore, negative reviews are simply NOT ALLOWED at all (some reviewers try to put "in between the lines" info to indicate that they really don't like a product but these people are very rare).

In essence, the magazines start out with good intentions and then little by little, as they gain circulation, inevitably the ad $$$ take over and the "tail wags the dog!"

"What Hi-Fi", a UK rag, probably remains the nearest to down to earth advice that I have seen.