Internet reviews are a really good way to identify some of the best, most consistently good-value products in almost any hobby or field. If you look at this sub, you would think there are only a dozen brands in the entire hardware industry (I even made a meme about it).
There is so much great gear out there that you will never find reading reviews and forums. Not that there’s anything wrong with LS50’s and Schiit and Topping and SVS and Monoprice. But I think we would all do ourselves a favor to try to listen to a wide array of equipment, especially used equipment, which is often fantastic and worth 10x its cost in sound quality.
High end audio is a boutique world, many people don’t know how to navigate it. Lots of various reviews for decades from stereophile, most will just watch YouTubers review the same Arendals. Lots of direct ship companies with trial periods, many will just get what is available on Amazon. I’m guilty of starting this way; paying the privilege to hear something in my own room didn’t seem like a good use of money for some reason initially.
My favorite uncommon (in US) brand is Acoustic Energy. Carbon fiber midrange/bass and tweeter is just cool. Not about having the best sounding, greatest value; things changed for me when I realized it was about having fun listening to stuff.