My buddy was a huge help and I'd highly recommend doing a fully blinded test. Pick 4-5 tracks that cover the range of music you like - listen to 1 minute of each, then, w/ same cable listen to all 5 again (Oh - cardboard placed over any spot where I could see which cable was hooked up and buddy switched them out and wrote down). Then have buddy blindly switch them out and repeat the same music. With higher end AQ and mid end MIT - MIT blew out of water. (listened to the second set for about a minute it was so obvious).
Then the bigger test. ~$3-3,400 range for 10' MIT vs TC Gen 5 Ultra. Blinded again and it took a little longer, maybe 2 more minutes and TC Ultra killed the 39 pole MITs.
I don't care about brand name- poles, geometry or any of that other BS - that's why I went completely blinded.
I don't have a great audiophile ear but I know what I like - and that is your challenge - take the time and find what sounds best to you (blinded)