I have been an avid, regular Stereophile subscriber for almost 3 years.
Initially, I found the periodic RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS listing an interesting read, but after reading a couple of them, I felt it had little to offer regular readers. I thought to myself that their repeated publication served to provide a respite to the Editorial staff, by lessening their burden for a month; at frequent intervals 
In early August, I decided to fly to Taiwan & Hong Kong to attend the 2 (almost) overlapping audio shows. Also on the agenda for me was to buy a Preamp for my system, and carry it back home.
The RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS listing in the April 2008 Sphile issue, was an ideal starting point to short list a preamp, specially since not an awful lot of Hi Fi Products are available locally in my country and even less available for audition. 
I shortlisted the following Pre-amps, based on My Budget, Stereophile Recommended Components listing and the facilities I wanted ( Remote Control and Balanced inputs).
LIKELY TO BUY:
Ayre K-5xe US $ 2,950
Audio Research LS26 Not On The Sphile List
ASPIRE TO BUY :
VTL 6.5 Signature US $ 9,500
( Prices indicated above are as quoted in the April 2008 Sphile, and RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS Listing.)
To be honest, I also factored in typical discounts I expected for buying at the show, or for a show demo item.
So it seemed that the Sphile RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS; Listing WERE of practical use to me, 
even though the synopsis of many ( check out the Ayre K-5xe listing ! 
) leave one questioning about what sonic character observed, makes it a recommended component. I had to go to the ( extensive & helpful) full reviews available at Sphile online.
There, I had my short list, and money in my pocket, as I left on my audio expedition.
HORRORS !
Prices quoted were WAY above the Sphile listed prices. I thought that I was being taken for a ride, but had the good fortune to meet one of the company CEOs who first asked me where I had obtained the prices that I was referring to. He pointed out that prices had infact been raised twice in the past 12 months itself !
The current prices US Recommended Retail Prices are :
Ayre K-5xe US $ 2,950 + approx 30%
VTL 6.5 Signature US $ 11,500 A difference of 20%
The way out of whack prices in the April 2008 RECOMMENDED LIST affected my buying decisions.
I bought the AR LS26.
It seems to me that Stereophiles RECOMMENDED LIST needs MUCH more work each time it is printed, rather than a mere Copy/Paste with weeding out obsolete products. Unless that is done, it is misleading, in error, and its repeated re-publication seems to serve the primary purpose of simply providing a respite to the Editorial staff, by easing their work load for that month 
I have been an avid, regular Stereophile subscriber for almost 3 years.
Initially, I found the periodic RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS listing an interesting read, but after reading a couple of them, I felt it had little to offer regular readers. I thought to myself that their repeated publication served to provide a respite to the Editorial staff, by lessening their burden for a month; at frequent intervals
In early August, I decided to fly to Taiwan & Hong Kong to attend the 2 (almost) overlapping audio shows. Also on the agenda for me was to buy a Preamp for my system, and carry it back home.
The RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS listing in the April 2008 Sphile issue, was an ideal starting point to short list a preamp, specially since not an awful lot of Hi Fi Products are available locally in my country and even less available for audition.
I shortlisted the following Pre-amps, based on My Budget, Stereophile Recommended Components listing and the facilities I wanted ( Remote Control and Balanced inputs).
LIKELY TO BUY:
Ayre K-5xe US $ 2,950
Audio Research LS26 Not On The Sphile List
ASPIRE TO BUY :
VTL 6.5 Signature US $ 9,500
( Prices indicated above are as quoted in the April 2008 Sphile, and RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS Listing.)
To be honest, I also factored in typical discounts I expected for buying at the show, or for a show demo item.
So it seemed that the Sphile RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS; Listing WERE of practical use to me,
even though the synopsis of many ( check out the Ayre K-5xe listing ! 
) leave one questioning about what sonic character observed, makes it a recommended component. I had to go to the ( extensive & helpful) full reviews available at Sphile online.
There, I had my short list, and money in my pocket, as I left on my audio expedition.
HORRORS !
Prices quoted were WAY above the Sphile listed prices. I thought that I was being taken for a ride, but had the good fortune to meet one of the company CEOs who first asked me where I had obtained the prices that I was referring to. He pointed out that prices had infact been raised twice in the past 12 months itself !
The current prices US Recommended Retail Prices are :
Ayre K-5xe US $ 2,950 + approx 30%
VTL 6.5 Signature US $ 11,500 A difference of 20%
The way out of whack prices in the April 2008 RECOMMENDED LIST affected my buying decisions.
I bought the AR LS26.
It seems to me that Stereophiles RECOMMENDED LIST needs MUCH more work each time it is printed, rather than a mere Copy/Paste with weeding out obsolete products. Unless that is done, it is misleading, in error, and its repeated re-publication seems to serve the primary purpose of simply providing a respite to the Editorial staff, by easing their work load for that month