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Being that I own high-end equipment, I enjoy seeing what else is out there.

I would like to see topics such as the best $1500 or $2000 system. It would also be nice if you were to review one component that is below $700 dollars in every issue and let the rest be the expensive stuff.

Some of the components are ridiculously expensive. Especially when they cost more than my new BMW.

The most significant reason I read Stereophile is the treatment of

Review everything and compare and contrast them with each other.

it's nice to dream, it's good to have goals, and we should know what the state of the art is to compare less expenxive products

Although my budget is severely limited, I don't mind the occaisional mega-dollar equipment review. I have to admit that reviews of very good equipment under $2000 is really what juices my lizard!

Review the cutting edge stuff, and, of course, that usually means high priced, but pleeeaaase remember that just because it's high priced does not mean it's the cats' meow. In my mind, the higher the price the more you need to put it through the ringer. If it's great, so be it, but remember today's best is usually tomorrow's boat anchor. I wonder what Colloms thinks of the Krell FPB amp today that he thought was the best thing he ever heard, just a few years ago?

but, the products are over-glorified . The faults, and there are often lots of them, should be more highlightened the more expensive the product, not the opposite.

The reviews of expensive products are great -- but I'd like to see an increase in the reviews of affordable gear. While the What Hi-Fi? approach is certainly not the way to go, many enthusiasts have to shop in the shallows of the High End. At 25, I'm still a young 'un and simply cannot afford megabuck equipment. That's not to say I 'll never own it -- it's just that I'm going to have to save up for a couple more years. All said, I think the magazine should stay intrinsically the same, but with perhaps one extra reviewer concentrating on less expensive gear. Ideally, this should be someone (like myself ;)) who is in the process of finding his way into the real high end. For example, my system is made up of a mid-fi amp (Harman Kardon HK1400), entry-level high end DAC and transport (EAD T1000 and DSP 1000 series II), and very entry-level speakers (Acoustic Energy Aegis Ones). I think it'd be interesting if someone with a somewhat similar set-up could take readers through the process of effectively upgrading to meet specific criteria -- spending $70,000 per component not being among them.

I need some expensive equipment reviews to know what to aim for (assuming said equipment hits the mark). But I need more items reviewed with a bias toward VALUE. This is especially true now that Audio and Stereo Review are gone and non-audiophiles are reading STEREOPHILE. Ya gotta hook them.

I generally skip reviews of super-expensive equipment. These days, the more value-oriented manufacturers are just doing too good a job of delivering performance and feature bang-for-the-buck.

I usually only read the start and conclusion of the really expensive stuff, unless I have a particular interest in the item being reviewed.

Wasn't this magazine created for audiophiles, hence the title "stereophile?" You'd figure that, with all the others audio mags out there for novices, they would be happy.

most audiophiles i know would like to read a lot of group tests even between equipment of a different price range

Would the other reviewers actually BUY the crazy expensive gear they review?

That's the very reason I read Stereophile—there're plenty of magazines featuring "the best CD player for $200," etc. I cannot afford a Porsche Turbo either, but I am much more interested in reading about it than about, say, a Yugo. Dreaming is a big part of being an audiophile . . .

I think you have achieved a reasonable balance in your selection of products to review. Hell, if I wrote for Stereophile, I'd want to have $85,000 speakers in my house, too. You've got to keep your reviewers happy as well as your subscribers.

A broad range, from moderate to high priced items would serve a broad range of readers. How about a stereo technology lesson every month? I am not an electrical engineer and cannot tell you what ohm, bit, sampling rate, hertz, cycles means. The technical info in your magazine is way over my head—it's like reading Greek!

Reviewing expensive equipment that only 2% of the population can afford is simply pointless. It wastes advertising space and/or review space for equipment that the middle class is likely to consider.

It's great to dream!

I like "upper-middle class" and "high-end".

How else do we find out about what is on the merciless cutting-edge?

I'm not interested in reading reviews of equipment that is "lower fi" than what I'm using myself

It's fun to see how far the state of the art has come and how far away I am from to achieving it.

Review more equipment in the sub-$2000 range.

You gotta love it all. I'd never want to invest big bucks for something that is way out on a limb, but it sure is fun to read about the stuff. Someday a used classic may become available that I can afford. The expensive stuff points the way for the affordable gear.

Well, the Sam Tellig cover-to-cover choice was a difficult one to avoid . . . but I feel a few "cost-no object" reviews" are important. I'd be willing to bet that many of the people that bitch about pricier gear are also the ones that seek it out later as used! Could a good review have ANYTHING to do with that? That is not really important. What is important, however, is reading a good description of the differences heard in the review piece compared with other gear, so that those of us with less expensive (PERHAPS less discerning gear) can ascertain whether we are getting closer to that very expensive musical truth. I recently read a car mag's letters to see if those readers complain about expensive machines . . . they do! A car mag with articles about nothing but inexpensive Kia and Honda automobiles would be JUST as interesting as an audio publication describing the sound of $299 Pioneer (insert the lo-fi company of choice)receivers. I don't think either publication would last very long.

Usually out of my monetary league!

love it- just like reading about very expensive cars, knowing whats possible`