The observation has been made, often and well, that audio writers are out of touch when it comes to judging value for money. For one thing, we get to live with exotic gear for months at a time, without spending a penny. For another, when we <I>do</I> decide on a more permanent upgrade, we usually get the opportunity to buy at wholesale&mdash;at a so-called "industry accommodation price," extended to us because, after all, we <I>are</I> a part of the industry.

The observation has been made, often and well, that audio writers are out of touch when it comes to judging value for money. For one thing, we get to live with exotic gear for months at a time, without spending a penny. For another, when we <I>do</I> decide on a more permanent upgrade, we usually get the opportunity to buy at wholesale&mdash;at a so-called "industry accommodation price," extended to us because, after all, we <I>are</I> a part of the industry.

One of my best friends is a serious jazz collector with a side interest in good replay gear. The last time we got together over a meal, he asked, "What do you think is <I>really</I> the most important component in an audio system?" He might have added "these days": It's a subject we come back to from time to time.

One of my best friends is a serious jazz collector with a side interest in good replay gear. The last time we got together over a meal, he asked, "What do you think is <I>really</I> the most important component in an audio system?" He might have added "these days": It's a subject we come back to from time to time.

One of my best friends is a serious jazz collector with a side interest in good replay gear. The last time we got together over a meal, he asked, "What do you think is <I>really</I> the most important component in an audio system?" He might have added "these days": It's a subject we come back to from time to time.

One of my best friends is a serious jazz collector with a side interest in good replay gear. The last time we got together over a meal, he asked, "What do you think is <I>really</I> the most important component in an audio system?" He might have added "these days": It's a subject we come back to from time to time.

One of my best friends is a serious jazz collector with a side interest in good replay gear. The last time we got together over a meal, he asked, "What do you think is <I>really</I> the most important component in an audio system?" He might have added "these days": It's a subject we come back to from time to time.

One of my best friends is a serious jazz collector with a side interest in good replay gear. The last time we got together over a meal, he asked, "What do you think is <I>really</I> the most important component in an audio system?" He might have added "these days": It's a subject we come back to from time to time.

In the September 2001 <I>Stereophile</I> (Vol.24 No.9), I wrote very favorably about Polk's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/417">RT25<I>i</I&gt; loudspeaker</A> ($319.90/pair). That bookshelf model impressed me with its open, neutral midrange; its pristine, extended high-frequency response; and its low-level dynamics. On the minus side, the RT25<I>i</I> was fairly limited in low-bass extension and high-level dynamic slam. At the time, I was seeking a new speaker for my home computer music-composition system, and I bought the review samples&mdash;the only time I've done that since I began to write for <I>Stereophile</I> some 20 speaker reviews ago.

In the September 2001 <I>Stereophile</I> (Vol.24 No.9), I wrote very favorably about Polk's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/417">RT25<I>i</I&gt; loudspeaker</A> ($319.90/pair). That bookshelf model impressed me with its open, neutral midrange; its pristine, extended high-frequency response; and its low-level dynamics. On the minus side, the RT25<I>i</I> was fairly limited in low-bass extension and high-level dynamic slam. At the time, I was seeking a new speaker for my home computer music-composition system, and I bought the review samples&mdash;the only time I've done that since I began to write for <I>Stereophile</I> some 20 speaker reviews ago.