Does hearing the best in high end audio make your opinions more valid?

Hearing the beauty in a system is only there if you hear it and doesn't matter what anyone else's opinion is or what they have heard, if you like it you know it , kind of the definition of porn is, I know it when I see it. We all need to trust our ears, after all they are our ears and not someone elses and we all have different criteria we are aiming for. Just sayin.

Unfortunately, the old audiophile axiom is mostly true, that our IDEAL of great sound, I.e., the sound we tend to strive for, is only as good as the best system we’ve ever heard. That right there explains a lot.

Obviously, if you take high end to be mean high quality, and not merely price. If you’ve only ever been listening to 128kps MP3 files through low quality headphones your experience will be limited and can only be valid for yourself. It can hardly be relevant to anyone else if that’s all you have as a reference.

I love hearing from people who have years of experience in high end audio. It’s even better when they tell you that although x costs only 10% of y, it actually sounds just as good, or even better! It’s the worst form of heresy in some circles I know, but it’s great when it happens.

An honest owners opinion can also give you a better idea of what living with a pair of Wilson speakers, McIntosh amp, Grado woodies etc might be like. It’s a great leveller when owners sometimes post less than flattering reviews. How dare they!

However, one major problem with reviews I think, is often one of communication. Words are a notoriously slippery way of conveying sensations. And then there’s issues of hearing capability, individual bias, and last but certainly not least, vested financial interests. And even if they’re bring honest, not everyone will always know themself inside out that well. Sometimes not even after a lifetime alas.

We know HiFi shows set in hotels aren’t always the best place to hear great sound but it’s not impossible. I one heard some Avantgarde Trios near as damn it bringing back to life (via vinyl) some long, long dead jazz musicians. Almost spooky, like that cowboy scene in Poltergeist.

So it’s either the reviews or we go back to shows and the dealers, and back to listening for ourselves. It’s far from an easy life being an audiophile unless you’re the audiophiliac himself, Steve Gutenberg!

I totally understand all the opinions. I allowed myself to hear a number of different systems in different enviorment. Personal preferences are really important. I also think system matching is really important. I’ve heard all out assault systems blow me away but that was because the guy who had it set it up properly and matched equipment well plus his system is of the kind I prefer. I also have heard all out assault systems sound bad because of matching and the persons personal preference I think it’s important to hear as much gear as you can to determine what you like and don’t like. I also  think it can teach you that it’s not about how much you spend that will get you sound happiness.

Also I would like to clarify something.  When I say the best I mean what I actually mean those pieces that are supposed to be really great based on the reviewers and the industry guys that supposedly say they are. Now I know a lot of payola is going on in the high end but I like to hear the so called cream of the crop to see how much better it is than what I have assembled or if it’s even better at all. I try to hear as much as I can to try to compare things to other things. Not doing a/b comparisons but the overall listening experience. I have settled in with my system and I’m extremely happy with it even when I compare to the super high end stuff.  However, equipment, cabling and enviorment matching has been pivotal in my set up.