The FTC ruling is an attempt I think to weed out the obvious conflict of interest of giving great reviews for free stuff. So on the surface, it’s actually a good policy. I wonder how it will be enforced however, and if it is enforceable.
Regardless, if you spend time watching YouTube reviews, you notice that sometimes there are product cycles through two or three or four reviewers or within about a month because the manufacturer is sending them sample copies. “ Sample copies” which may or may not have strings attached who knows.
and although I used to love watching audio reviews on YouTube, I have far less appetite for it now mostly based on my experience of such products or the fact that every month or two the best product is always the latest one. I can count several off the top of my head several reviewers that are certainly guilty of having the best product they’ve ever heard at this price point several times a year. And it’s much easier for reviewers to say good things to be critical. The flipside of that is that being critical over device can get you sued.
So either scenario Is likely to be tainted via positive info, free or negative influence being afraid to accurately review something. It’s really crappy overall for us as consumers and as the brick and mortar stores are drying up we literally have no options to listen to music unless you purchase in return or you actually believe what these Talking Heads are saying on YouTube.
Best option is to join an audio club. I suppose listen to gear with friends and acquaintances. but how difficult is that to arrange?