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Good sound is a must. Good measurements are, too, if the measurements are valid and complete for the product and its intended application.

Mostly sound—however, I would consider a measurement if it particularly stood out. For example, if I was buying an amplifier to drive 85dB speakers, I would not consider an 8Wpc SET model!

I have learned to trust my ears not reviews.

& Price

Sound. What else matters?

You can't ignore measurements made by a competent tester. Sound ,however, must be the ultimate criterion. I would never bother auditioning a component that scored poorly in sound.

I guess it is redundent, but the specs always seem to matter somehow. However, the ears are the final judge. I can spend hours mentally debating on the specs not coinciding with what I believe I am hearing, so I let the ears decide. I often wonder how accurate manufacturers' specs are. Who monitors them and varifies the accuracy?

I checked Sound only. However, what a product looks like is just as important! So I consider sound quality and the aesthetics. Measurements cannot tell me anything about how a product sounds. Maybe we haven't learned to measure the right things?

The word "audition" stems from audire (lat.) which means "listen," not measure anything. And music is about listening, right?

Playboy publishes measurments, too. Never used them to decide who to seduce, neither. ;)

Ultimately, it's all about the pleasure that we derive from a component. Although I could be proud to own the "best" engineered component, if it doesn't sound good to my ears, then I won't suffer the burden of ownership.

I have no interest in poorly designed products. I skip to JA's measurements when reading reviews—if all goes well there, then I'll take the time to read the rest of the review. There are plenty of well-designed products in every category. There's no need to waste time on the dumb designs that may sound good to the reviewer due to some "happy accident" of component, cable, or room interaction.

It is all that matters to me.

I'll say "Sound only," assuming that practical factors such as heat and electrical usage are a given. I learned that very quickly after hearing, and buying, my SET amps.

Great sound is essential. But it's nice to see that a product has sound engineering as well.

Actually, I can rarely listen to audiophile equipment due to the dearth of good shops in my area, so I have to rely on brand name and the reviews in Stereophile, etc, to make a decision.

Sound and functionality. Over time, I have learned to look past the sound to make sure the compontent can do the things I need in my system. I am currently interested in an A/V processor that sounds great. Now I have to learn the video requirements I will have and how this compontent will perform those requirements.

JA's and others measurements and technical comments often can be the red flag that will indicate long term enjoyment or dissatisfaction, reliability or problems, a keeper or quick resell. Since I would never be able to duplicate the room and setup the reviewer used, the sound I base my decision on is the sound I hear when auditioning. I read what the reviewer says for enjoyment, not for help in making a decision. When I buy a product that does not have a professional technical review, I research the hell out of it to make sure it is based upon sound design standards and that other consumers have gained long term satisfaction from the product. I only buy audio equipment that has been on the market for at least six months to one year. Similar to my belief in not buying a car my mechanic hasn't checked out and taken for a test drive, I've never gotten a lemon.

About the only measurements that I care about are amplifier power and speaker bass extension. And those really are descriptions to see if the component meets my needs, rather than measurements.

Reliability and sound. It all sounds alike when it doesn't work. As for measurements; once we learn what and how to measure, I'll care. Right now all our measurements tell us is does the product meet spec. Thats just fine for blenders and microwave ovens, but has nothing to do with music. Look at how many amps and preamps have high THD specs and sound great. In fact has anyone heard an amp or preamp with ultra-low THD that sounded good?

If the sound the equipment produces does nothing for you, it really doesn't matter how well the equipment measures. The sound will still do nothing for you.

Definitely sound. After all, I'm buying it to listen , not to measure. Taking a cursory look at the numbers, though, makes me feel like I've done my homework.

Until my ossicles learn to decode numbers and graphs and pass that "data" to the scala tympani, media and vestibuli that pass sound to my brain, I'll chose equipment on sound and not numbers because that's what my body uses and likes! I don't even know the number gathered from testing of any component I own. I am glad the numbers are there for those that like them.

If a product measures badly, there's almost always a reason. Measurement isn't everything, but components have to work in the room I have with the components I have and the varied types of music I listen too.

The sound of the product is the most important factor. The measurements are the part of the reviews that I don't read. I want to know what the equipment sounds like. When I am shopping for new equipment, I listen, listen, listen!

Reviews serve to build a candidate list. A component likely won't make the list if it doesn't measure well, but definitely won't make the list if it doesn't sound good, according to the review. Then I go and listen. If I can't listen to it, I won't buy it -- this means supporting local dealers -- So far, components in my 2 channel system have only made it there after an in home addition.

If it doesn't sound good, then the rest doesn't matter.

SACD measures poorly compared to DVD-A, but sounds so much better. Says it all, really.

Since most of the stuff I own has not been measured by Stereophile, I would have to go by mostly sound, cause I have no idea of how they measure.

Your question is too broad for me to answer accurately. For selecting what to audition, I must admit it's mostly measurements. But when it