Thank you Teajay, I agree completely with you that we are deeply immersed in the realm of personal preference. And this is why I am as narrow as I possibly can in my own findings. . . e.g. I may say that I personally prefer component A over B in my own system using criteria 1, 2, 3, but I won't say that A is better than B, or that A is an absolute 'best'. In particular, as I have not auditioned Audio Valve Eklipse, I am not in a position of stating my preference for one or the other. If you have been able to compare a well broken in Capri with an equally broken in AV, please let us know more, as audiogoners benefit from as many real findings as possible.
On the subject of Criterion, as I have heard it in only one system (not even my own), and very few people have heard it this far besides me, it is not particularly useful to summize a priori that it be more or less subjectively preferable to other devices, regardless of my own hopeful enthusiasm, let alone 'better' or 'worse'. Future may tell. My only suggestion is to keep an ever open mind. . . whilst audiophilia continues unabated (grins!) G.
On the subject of Criterion, as I have heard it in only one system (not even my own), and very few people have heard it this far besides me, it is not particularly useful to summize a priori that it be more or less subjectively preferable to other devices, regardless of my own hopeful enthusiasm, let alone 'better' or 'worse'. Future may tell. My only suggestion is to keep an ever open mind. . . whilst audiophilia continues unabated (grins!) G.