We are buying and reviewing gear all wrong


So let's assume that cables, power conditioners and electronics all contribute noticeably to the sounds we hear.

In that case, maybe the idea of buying individual gear, reviewing individual gear, etc. is all messed up.
We should review entire systems, and buy entire systems.

This idea that we constantly shuffle interconnects, speaker and power cords for all our lives is messed up.

We shouldn't be looking at audio stores or reviewers as recommending gear, but themes. Styles. Entire collections all at once.
erik_squires
I owned a all MBL System and was incredibly good ,when I owned a Audio store . I could never afford to pay even close to retail 
as a regular consumer . There are very few companies who 
make Loudspeakers as well as electronics and cables . If you have the bucks go for it all in one shot, otherwise you just save and upgrade as you can afford it.
Home theater stores are closer to offering "package" audio systems, and many new-home buyers are excited about having every room wired with wall or ceiling speakers.  If that's not enough, you could also hire a life coach and an interior decorator.  Why make all the hard decisions?  
The joy is about liking to listen.  And liking to listen to other systems.  Yet I would be bummed if I could not A/B test speakers or amplifiers every now and then and revert back if I wasn't super-happy with an upgrade and talk to someone about it.  Hence the desire to tweak and yet bleed money for the price of something unachievable at any cost.

I always admired those focused on the curation of the media and the particular performance.  Yet enter digital.  Fights now ensue over which $100K DAC makes a 4TB library of 'stuff' sound better and in what resampled format without mention or knowledge of when recorded, how many recordings are known and their scarcity.

To me, an audiophile takes as much time preparing to listen (and share) as they do listening.  Some claim it's about the music and being all about social is ruining today's music.  As I see it, without social, you are unwilling to give another voice or taste a listen.  If you have an integrated system that sounds great to you, and you are really exuberant about how great it is rather than what it cost, I will listen and many others will too.
Bryston offers complete systems.  Excellent quality audio equipment and backed up with a twenty year warranty on most of their line.  Yup !  Twenty years and it doesn't matter who owns it as long as it goes back to them in the original shipping box. That alone separates the men from … well from anyone else in the audio business.