here is my take on Stereophile and the rest of the audio magazines; they don't add anything other than reviews of vendor provided equipment, and any vendor that won't provide a no cost component will not reviewed or acknowledged in the magazine. Audio magazines don't do feature articles like photography / automobile / sport magazines. When was the last time an audio magazine tested the 5 leading power chords? Or presented an article on the various ways to isolate components? I can't remember when I read an article that actually taught me something....Unless you are in the market for a specific piece of equipment, Stereophile is useless..with the possible exception of Fremer's column, because I am a dedicated analog user....
I recently emailed John Atkinson of Stereophile
I was concerned lately by the lack of Class "D" preamps in latest Stereophile Recommended Components listings and e-mailed John Atkinson the editor, who implied that because many newer preamps exceed the Class D limitations and newer preamps simply outperform their older bretheren, this class was currently empty. Which got me thinking: one can purchase a used Conrad Johnson PV10a or a Conrad Johnson PF-2 on this site for around six hundred dollars. Does this mean that Newer preamps in the same basic price range, like the new Parasound Halo which goes for $799 at Audio Advisor "sound better" than vintage gear? Any thoughts?