Good thread. I cut my teeth in the Cables Forum at AudioReview 20 some years ago. Michael's observations on what gear they have and how they decided, white papers, is still exactly the same. My favorite naysayer was a poster named Mtrycraft. Betting others here may have encountered him back in...
I bought a Used VAC Pre years ago and had Tube questions. Kevin spent 30 minutes on the phone with me. That is how they all should treat people who purchase their gear new or used.
Surround Sound can be good with the right movie and effects, but recently I find most movies have too much sound on top of the dialog. I find myself watching thru my stereo instead of the HT system a lot.
What I really dislike about Reviewer, Reviews, and Demos is that Dianna Krall in now way demonstrates what any given system can do with more than one instrument and some vocals. Rarely do I hear any demos or reviewer using music I actually listen to so most are useless to me.