That's exactly my point. As purchasers of audio equipment, what tools do we have at our disposal to discriminate between products? Really nothing except our ears and the cds/vinyl we know that put audio gear to the test.
On the other side are manufacturers, dealers and reviewers who never seem to produce, carry or review gear that isn't top notch in one way or another, and the reputation (which from our perspective is nothing more than that) which certain gear has developed over time. Moreover, there is the clearly expressed sense that if we want an improvement, we have to spend ever larger sums.
I don't know any other way to deal with this situation except to play my system-busters during auditions, and be willing to tell the dealer that their gear doesn't perform. (This may not make us many friends among dealers, but as Bill Cosby used to say in his pitchman role: "It's my money!")
On the other side are manufacturers, dealers and reviewers who never seem to produce, carry or review gear that isn't top notch in one way or another, and the reputation (which from our perspective is nothing more than that) which certain gear has developed over time. Moreover, there is the clearly expressed sense that if we want an improvement, we have to spend ever larger sums.
I don't know any other way to deal with this situation except to play my system-busters during auditions, and be willing to tell the dealer that their gear doesn't perform. (This may not make us many friends among dealers, but as Bill Cosby used to say in his pitchman role: "It's my money!")