I know that some audiophiles don’t like to review measurements but they are instructive.

A DAC with 0.2 dB deviation in frequency response and distortion and noise below 0.01% is commonplace.

A speaker with linear frequency response within +/- 2dB both on and off axis and distortion below 0.5% for most of the audible range is commendable.

It is much more important to focus on improving the component that is orders of magnitude worse than rest of the chain - and that is the speakers (and room).

Extra 200-500 hz

Yeah, online reviews are worthless. Pick any piece of gear that exists. I guarantee that you can find a glowing review for it somewhere from someone. Every $300 component sounds as good as competitors $1000 components, every $1,000 component sounds as good as competing $2,000 components and every $2,000 component sounds as good as competing $5,000 components. What is the point of the subjective reviews.

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Clearly part of this is that there is a reviews industry which relies on the industry for components for review and for ad revenue. If 95% of the stuff wasn’t the best and only 5% of the stuff was praised then the business model wouldn’t work. That is why we get 95% of stuff is great and only 5% of stuff isn’t as good. Truth is that most consumers are just looking for validation on the stuff they were planning to buy anyways.