I recently raised a similar question on another discussion board after reading a review of an amplifier, and then noticing the reviewer owned several products by the manufacturer.
It seems possible, and perhaps likely that a reviewer who owns products by manufacturer X is apt to give a favorable review to a new product by manufacturer X. I'm not suggesting this is intentional or collusional, but simply a natural inclination of the reviewer to prefer manufacturer X's products, and therefore to write a positive review.
That's why it's so important to carefully read a reviewer's associated equipment list. It may provide clues to the reviewer's listening preferences. For example, one might not give the same weight to a review of a tube amplifier by a reviewer who owns solid state gear, and vice versa. This isn't to suggest the review is less valid, but merely to suggest the reviewer's preference in amplification might not be in line with the reader's preferences.
It seems possible, and perhaps likely that a reviewer who owns products by manufacturer X is apt to give a favorable review to a new product by manufacturer X. I'm not suggesting this is intentional or collusional, but simply a natural inclination of the reviewer to prefer manufacturer X's products, and therefore to write a positive review.
That's why it's so important to carefully read a reviewer's associated equipment list. It may provide clues to the reviewer's listening preferences. For example, one might not give the same weight to a review of a tube amplifier by a reviewer who owns solid state gear, and vice versa. This isn't to suggest the review is less valid, but merely to suggest the reviewer's preference in amplification might not be in line with the reader's preferences.