stereo system evaluation--objective or subjective

evaluation is subjective
performance is objective

Measured performance if done correctly should be a factor in evaluation but that alone will not likely determine results of individual human evaluations which in the end is all that matters.

Taste? No, we all hear differently so in the end 'ears' rule. A while back someone did a study on identical twins and found even they had hearing differences which were more environmentally created. Add into the mix that different cultures and those speaking different native languages hear differently, e. g. 'the British sound'. Accent matter.

Isn't it interesting that some British recording artists lose their accent while singing and some Americans gain one :)
Or is it just my ears?

"wouldn't be instructive to find a method that is independent of the listener?"

WTF???

How do you eliminate the listener, idiot?

TALK ABOUT A STUPID RESPONSE!

That would mean removing subjectivity and using only technical data. I wonder to what extent design engineers use their ears. There is a fairly large margin of predictability towards a particular desired outcome but I would think a lot of trial and error goes into prototyping any piece of gear before a final rendition is settled on. So I guess I've answered my own question.