It is also important to remember, wether golden ears, a chef, or even a sound professional, we are each unique and can hear things differently. We have subjective sonic preferences and particular auditory sensitivities that cause us to focus in on certain aspects of sound and tone. It is easy to understand why one person appreciates a subtle sonic difference while another misses it completely. An acute sonic sensitivity/preference can be at play. Many other subtle mind/ear scenarios are at play that I certainly don’t understand.
I guess the longer I live as an audiophile and music lover the more I understand and leave room for our varying experiences with the same tweaks and equipment.
For example, I suffer from a little tinnitus that can be triggered by certain gear and systems. Townshend Pod products under both my speakers and gear have allowed me to actually turn up the volume more without triggering my tinnitus. Fun to listen at these louder levels from time to time. I could not do this with other footers in place. This alone makes the Pods a great addition for me that someone else would miss entirely. This is but one single example of our auditory differences and sensitivities.