"Objective" can be taken in two distinct ways.
If taken as absolutely pristine, then no, there is no such thing, nor could there ever be, given that we all hear differently.
But if taken as a true to life narration of what the person doing the testing has heard, in his/her room, with his/her system, then the answer would be yes, it is possible. It may not be common, but it IS possible.
It's also rare because of purely economic considerations of both the magazine and the reviewer. It doesn't pay to have bad reviews. Sad, but true.
Nor is every reviewer, including famous names in famous magazines, equipped for it, in terms of knowledge and equipment. When I review something, I do so in the same room everything else was reviewed in, with the same systems, always at 24 +/-1 degree centigrade, 70% +/-1% humidity, summer or winter. I invested in the gear for it.
After listening (never before), the oscilloscope, the generators and the rest of the tech works come in. I always measure it if I can, I like to correlate what I heard with measurements, if possible, and it's not always that. I may not publish the results, but if anyone asks, I feel it's my duty to have them on hand.
I have a set of standard software (CDs and LPs and a few 10" tape reels) which is used as required, but I'll be happy to add to the list if I'm unsure (not often, but it does happen sometimes).
And I will not test anything if it can't stay with me for for 3 weeks. I have found that this time covers the vast majority of my moods.
I cancelled a review only once, two months ago when my mother died; I really wasn't in the mood to listen to music for evaluation. I phoned the people up, apologized, and cancelled. Fortunately, they were considerate.
After 19 years of professionally testing hardware, albeit PC hardware, and 12 years of testing audio gear, I have no problem saying something is a bad deal. The worst I have ever said, and I said it on TV, was: "Steer well clear of this product". Generally, I'll say something like you'll do better elsewhere, for example, products x, y and possibly z .
Now I do my own site, I've retired from that business because I couldn't stand the dirt any more. Too much for my stomach. I don't go looking for faults, but if I see one or more, I can't sign the text without putting it in what I believe is proper perspective; my colleagues can do it in a blink of an eye.
So I withdrew; I like to sleep peacefully.
Cheers,
DVV
