Subjective assessment is a vital component in judging any piece of audio equipment. We have not established a set of tests which fully and accurately describe the perceived performance of audio or video components. Particularly with things like loudspeakers, an experienced listener can come to a valuable view of the performance just from a brief listen. That said, subjectivism does not negate the equal value of objective tests and has far too often been taken to ridiculous extremes. One giveaway is when the reviewer starts talking about his or her feelings. If a system is claimed to be more able generate an emotion in the listener than another system (except, perhaps, for anger and irritation when it fails to work properly), then it is time to stop reading. Emotions are primarily generated by the interactions between the music, the listener's tastes and the listener's mood. These things will swamp any due to the subtle differences between two CD players or amplifiers.