In the middle of a pandemic, Stereophile reviews ~ $30K equipment

Yeah, I am somewhat skeptical, but this is not my specialty so it's hard for me to guess. But I do have higher hopes - as of today- that at some point the virus will get tired and bored and will leave. Might take years, though. And all those apparently coming back soon interstate and international travels..I don't want to think about it. And I want out of all this madness. Any suggestions ?
By the way, wearing proper mask is quite uncomfortable, and you can't eat without removing it..
Ain't life a ..full of surprises.

"And I want out of all this madness. Any suggestions ?"

Look at the bright side, it has not been you. (yet, for all we know)

No middle ground?

Wear a mask is prudent....
Wash hands prudent...
Universal health care in usa overdue
Real minimum wage prudent

If you are older or have a preexisting condition stay home....

BUT if someone does not wanna wear.a mask in public it’s their life he or she is risking and other imprudent people around them .[ASSUMING prudent people wearing a mask]

On the other hand if you are not 65 and over or health compromised or live with someone who is...you do not need to hide in your attic like a modern day Anne Frank hoping and waiting for a.vaccine[ unless you want to emotionally]

The overwhelming majority of death and ICU PATIENTS are elderly and health compromised....this means diabetes and pre-diabetes....this means smokers...and yes perhaps one percent IF THAT who for some reason may have serious complications and otherwise healthy.

My girlfriend works at hospital treating covid and it’s virtually all old or smokers or poor health or overweight or poor diet and lack of exercise or some combo....

So please dont say odds are anyone can end up hospitalized as that is not what is happening for close to 99 percent of those in ICU....

If people ate better exercised and had proper medical care and sick leave in usa we would have 90 percent less death even with this clown as prez.

Look at germany capitalism and low death rates no surprise.....maybe they can give us Marshall plan....or maybe we could stop military overspending..

Nothing wrong with pricey equipment but obviously much is ridiculously overpriced and mediocre to boot....try to hear before you buy and avoid paying msrp...at least 25 percent off discount or used or I don’t consider buying

Erik loves to firestart threads and he ain’t listening to bose equipment

"So please dont say odds are anyone can end up hospitalized as that is not what is happening for close to 99 percent of those in ICU...."

Odds actually are that anyone can end up hospitalized and that is what is happening to 100% of those in ICU.

Erik loves to firestart threads and he ain’t listening to bose equipment

Well, I can't argue these two points based on facts. ;-)

To be fair, my despair in writing the original post was NOT to debate effective government policy, medical evidence of the effects of the virus or how to save lives.  That was something everyone else brought here on their own. :)  I encourage everyone who wishes to read up on the start of the great depression, as well as the Spanish Flu of 1918 (probably started in Kansas) as well as the data regarding how different US states handle it and what the consequences were.  This is not a new event no one has seen before, we just didn't spend a lot of time in history class with either. I will be happy to discuss those things with you on history boards, not here.

What was on my mind was the sense of community of being an audiophile. Our hobby was started by experimenters and hobbyists, and continues to have support among many who listen to good music with modestly priced systems who aspire to have great music reproduction experiences.   I so rarely feel Stereophile attempts to support this at all, and this month was a great example.