Wmcmanus, at least I recognize your username from headfi.
A newly registered user, with only 3 posts under that user name, suddely posts a suspicious sounding post asking for "opinions" on a never before heard of brand of CD player, and posts 2 links to headfi, where there are 2 suspiciously commercial threads on that particular brand of CD player. Plus that particular new user has not posted another post on audioholics since that post in question. If that doesn't raise alarm bells for stealth advertising, I don't know what does.
This is like my posting a link to a get ipods for free site, and asking for audioholics forum members' opinions on that pyramid scheme.
Headfi these days is flooded with these types of stealth commercial advertising posts disguised as innocent posts started by "forum members". I don't know if those commercial interests have special monetary compensation agreements with headfi administrators, or that headfi admnistrators are simply too lenient on these types of posts. But posts of this nature are highly frowned upon at audioholics.
If Eastsound or Headfi feel that they need to draw audioholics' members attention to their brand or site, they can legitmately pay advertising fees on audioholics and have their own ad banners on audioholics.
