Is ASR for real, or is it only for those sub $1k or even sub $2K?

kerrybh:  good post

The only worthwhile part of Stereophile  are John Atkinson's measurements. TAS doesn't even have those.

Why should they own expensive gear? When it all sounds the same, to buy an amplifier for 10K when a receiver will sound just as good, makes one a hypocrite.

And @dynacohum , I believe in subjective differences in components. And I am not a "vaccine skeptic". I am just a "COVID vaccine skeptic". 

@andy2 I like ASR for unmasking much of the audio-BS going around. I don't know what most ASR posters have in terms of equipment and price points, but you can look at my virtual system and make your own conclusions. I only remember Amir liking his Dan Clark Ether cans, and they are in the $2K range.

For those who claim ASR is not listening to gear, you have not looked at any of Amir's reviews. He typically includes a listening experience portion, including comparisons. If anybody wants to fault a forum for being narrow-minded, it is AG. No measurements to be found anywhere. 

I agree with @kerrybh 's balanced assessment, particularly the schizophrenic mindset at AG that measurements are no good, but blind AB test are also shunned. 

"Not nice" begets "not nice".  I suspect that much of the perceived animosity for ASR stems from the harsh criticism someone will get if they post a subjective opinion.  I’m sure it’s a two-way street, but I certainly remember how critical they were of my subjective input before I realized how married they are to the specs, and how little emphasis they put on subjective listening.  It was quite unpleasant, and I thought unnecessary.  It seems it’s always the extremists who give a bad name to the moderates with a slight slant one way or the other.  

I also suspect that the polarized controversy appeals to his segment of the market, which makes money for him, so there may be a fair amount of posturing for the sake of promoting his stance.