As Alan eludes to, gear can be made to measure well (or not). Can gear convey the emotion and feeling of the MUSIC? That should be the question the reviewer answers.
What is written about the gear here can only really be asked about the actual music in the recording. Crisp bass/glass like treble or whatever.
The gear recreates the recording well or it does not.
Where equipment can impart a sound signature is usually related to timing(digital jitter)/alignment of cart (vinyl)/power supply/synergy of components etc, resulting in a better sound overall.
Having said that I don't believe all reviewers are bad or insincere. I've bought a lot of good kit purely based on the enjoyment the reviewer (seemed) to get out of it. Sometimes they do seem genuine. Mainstream reviewers like WHF etc, nah, they DO just pander to their advertisers.
I tend to gravitate towards the more independent (and rather well off reviewers who don't need to advertise anything or prove anything to anyone). 6moons comes to mind. Although they do grant themselves a big slice of poetic licence when it comes to babbling on about the texture of the mid-range etc. But they're often good reads none the less.
System 1: - Amp - Musical Paradise MP-701 mk2 - Neurochrome 686
- Source: Audio Technica LP-5 - Custom 6V6 stage - Novafidelity X30 - Soekris 1421 (LPSU) - Custom TDA1541 C3G DAC -
- Speakers: Martin Logan Prodigy's - Subs: - REL T3's -
System 2 - Amp: Musical Paradise MP 303/Custom 300B SET - Custom 6SL7 Pre -
- Source: Pioneer N-30K - SONCOZ SGD1 -
- Speakers: Loth X BS1's - Sub: REL T3 -