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

Hearing the really top end stuff in my experience only allows you to better judge what you consider to be great sound.
 The more varied your experience the greater the depth of knowledge you can draw upon.
 Some very expensive gear I’ve heard was exploring unorthodox technologies that although expensive did not seem to me to be as successful as the cost warranted.

Calvin: 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.

"supposed to be really great," and "that supposedly say they are."

Best is quantitatively finite, it is not subjectively infinite, which is why it’s an oxymoron with regard to music reproduction equipment, as I said earlier. And, who cares what those so-called reviewers and industry guys think, anyway?

We’re the ones with the ears, and the bux they want.

I took my wife to her first audio show last year.  The third system was the von Schweikert/VAC/Kronos at $1.4 million.  That's the system she wanted after a 20 minute session.  Four others competed at a lower level from $20K to $150K.  Most left her running from the room or bored (about 40 other systems).  Listening to the best actually spoiled her appreciation for what I have, which is similar to the other four rooms, very musical, not as resolving/soundstaging/dynamic as the $1.4 million system.  She's so critical now when it comes to her rock albums (which I point out are not all audiophile quality).  So, I let her play her rock in a lesser revealing system with more feedback and warmer sound which she prefers.  She does like classical and jazz on my better system though.

As far as Raidho sounding cold. Once again it was not put together properly. High priced equipment is not the only yardstick. Room, amplification, cabling, source etc make a huge difference. That’s why if you paid attention to what I was saying in the post tha DAVE BASKIN WAS EXPERIENCED AT HIS CRAFT. He knew how to properly match things. He knew how to position his equipment and soundproof his listening enviorment. Any high end speaker can sound like crap if you don’t properly match it with the proper source, cabling, amplification and listening enviorment. As far as lack,of knowledge is concerned you don’t know me and I wouldn’t tell you you have a lack of knowledge. Whatever, anyway I didn’t just go to a show and listen to the equipment I mentioned. I either owned, had long term monthly demos in my listening enviorment or went to listen them on multiple occasions in other people’s systems. I’m just saying if you have not done what I have done at least I’m probably less apt to listen to you. I want people that have tried the whole spectrum and heard the whole spectrum of stuff. I’m not saying that makes them right or wrong but I’m personally more likely to,trust them more. In addition to that when I hear the higher priced equipment that is PROPERLY SET UP AND MATCHED IT WILL BLOW THE OTHER STUFF AWAY USUALLY. Not all the times but more times than not. Is the higher price stuff worth what people pay. NO IM NOT PAYING FOR AUDIO EQUIPMENT THAT COSTS A MANSION OR LUXURY CAR. Some will but I won’t. I feel I’m playing at a nice level that allows me to get the resolution and musicality that I seek in my audio. To each his own. No one is 100% right just my opinion. BASED ON MY LACK OF EXPERIENCE. LOL.

Look everybody. I have spent the last 14 years going at Audio like an obsession. I have had the pleasure of having Rick Schultz at high fidelity cables allow me to demo stuff. Scott warren at advance home theater system. Bob Spence and affirm Audio and the late Great DAVID BASKIN who had a speaker bucket list because he knew he was dying. Last but not least my friend Charles Threat who along with my friend Bill Smith went on an audio journey for the last 10years. In addition to that my guy Gary at Audio emotion in Scotland always came through with great suggestions. I learned all I could from these guys. I was blessed to have the opportunity to get 30 plus years of experience that each guy had in our hobby. Each of them spent 30 years minimum chasing the Audio ghosts.  I’ve heard equipment and cabling at all levels through these relationships. I don’t only speak of what I learned but also what I was taught by them. Equipment, placement, room acoustics, resolution, cabling, recording qualities, equipment isolation etc etc. These guys have allowed me to have access of equipment as cheap as $100 up 100k. I have been blessed to learn and enjoy this hobby like I have. The reason I have settled in my system is that for what I paid and what I seek I’m in a great space. Can I do better yes but at a cost and gamble I’m not willing to take. Every little thing affects your system from the cheapest cable to the room enviorment. I have my opinion but to some you may disagree and that’s fine but I will very seldom lay run into anyone that has been on the trip I have in this hobby for the last 14 years. I have enjoyed every bit of it.  I started out thinking that folks were crazy to ever pay more than 2k For anything in this hobby and then I heard what was possible through technology, resolution and great amplification and I changed my mind. It’s great that we have opinions but remember we all have different experiences and I’m not going to down you for disagreeing with me but lack of experience is not a street that you should go down with me. I have been schooled by a great group of guys that love this hobby and do it not just to sell me stuff but for the music. Enjoy it while you are hear two of those guys are no longer with us!