Can't we all just get along?

not all opinions are worthwhile - an expert opinion by an Electronic engineer, acoustician or recording engineer is worth a lot more than an opinion by a run of the mill dude on the internet

I don’t particularly care for opinions, and can do that on my own. What I am interested in is facts, and if other people give me good fact based information I am all in for it, even if that takes more words to read. I rather like reading a well argued and documented case.

@willemj   I agree. I like to read about facts here that inform me about audio equipment.  I do also, however, value the opinion of most who post here.  In my case, that is the main reason I come here.  

I have a reputation with my extended family for being the "researcher".  I am known by them to be the one who will read review after review, both professional and user reviews to help inform me on an upcoming purchase.  I'm not talking here about audio but of auto tires, hairdryers, etc. etc.  

I have rarely after investing the time to do so, been led astray by others' opinions.  I look for the commonalities in the statements of others to guide my purchases.

To reciprocate, I review many products that I have purchased and try to be as accurate about my experiences as possible so others may benefit as well. 

Again, no sweat if that's not your thing.  I do understand how some folks do not value others' opinions.  You don't know them nor they you.  It is a leap of trust that I am sure is difficult for some.  That's okay!

The problem in a nutshell is that one man’s fact is another man’s opinion. A recent post stated, ”only quite facts.” Which I (very tactfully, of course) mocked. When two or more people agree on whether some fact is TRUE it doesn’t necessarily mean it is TRUE. That’s why there is such a thing as Appeal to Authority. Claiming to be an authority or claiming to quite a 100% reliable source doesn’t constitute a valid argument. If it did constitute a valid argument, all anyone would have to say to win ANY argument is, “I’m an expert on the subject so I must be right.” Even when the person actually IS an expert in the field, which he may or may not be. I wouldn’t think of impugning anyone’s motives for saying something or another. Furthermore, even experts in a given field disagree. Hel-loo!

@geoffkait  "Furthermore, even experts in a given field disagree."  Totally TRUE.  In reading about the similar design goals that disparate designers have, it is intriguing how many totally different approaches these various designers employ to get to the same end goal of producing components that are as truthful to the music as possible.