As someone whose worked in the audio world several times over my lifetime as a technician and even sales and even been the one demoing equipment at CES, etc. show hotel rooms, I can say it’s rarely a perfect representation of what the equipment can do. Sometimes it’s because the equipment is brand new and has been set up and burned in for 24-48hrs. before the show starts. So it’s no where near broken in. Sometimes all the equipment is sent to a dealer who sets it up in they’re building for a few days and has a chance to break it in but as most of us know it can take weeks of playing before a system comes into its own.
Also, as we know, the center listening position is the only position to be in. A bunch of other “bodies” in the room does change the perception of the presentation. Just like when I’ve run sound at concerts the amount of people in the room completely changes how I set the eq’s. The sound completely changes with more bodies, etc.
I guess I’m saying all this because you will almost never get a “perfect “ example of what a system is capable of at a demonstration although it should give you a decent idea.
I know with my panel speakers if I’m off on the set up by just a literal fraction it can completely change the dynamics, detail, tightness of bass. Being in the electronics world most of my life I never made the kind of money to own that expensive equipment though I’ve heard a lot over the years since the 80’s. Many of which I wasn’t impressed with at all and even some moderate medium systems I would love to own. I remember in the 80’s walking into Audio Research rooms with huge IRS speaker systems that were sooo bright and steely sounding that all I could think of is get me out of here! Even something simple like the wrong cables can destroy the dynamics or make a system sound too soft. Sometimes it’s just bad equipment!
I’ve always been more on a budget and have built or at least modified my equipment. So I’ve been able to “tailor” the sound of my equipment until I’ve achieved the sound I wanted. Of course every time I improve the acoustics of my room or get a new piece of equipment I sometimes end up tailoring (fine tuning) something else. “Everything matters” and changes the sound you hear.