There have been precious few facts in far too long, that is why I created the thread -- so idle speculation which has become rampant will at least be in one place.

When it comes to audio quality I do beleive that the compromises that the marketing driven firms make do render their products sonically less neutral compared to the kinds of decisions made by firms that can cater to folks less concerned with the latest bells and blinking lights.

I guess there is too wide a gulf between people like me that do belive different products do have distinctive sound qualities and those that belive that the only think that matters is what sort of faceplate is affixed to a box.