Is it important to long demo or own HIGH END gear to have a fair accurate view about it?

@ernstmach i can understand your points.  Having it in your own environment is important.  Spending quality time with it is important as well. 20 years in this I understand that 100% 

@carlsbad2 you hit the nail on the head.  I spent about 12 years in a row trying every cable I could so I could learn as much as possible about the sound. What makes the good, bad or average. I probably tried over 40 brands in those years. So I speak from experience.  So when some dimwit tells me they don’t make a difference and I’m imagining things and the come with some psycho science babble about not hearing differences I raise my brow! You are talking to a guy who actually sat and listened to brand  and after brand for 12 years straight. I have the experience personal experience with cables. So when it comes to cables as well as high end audio I have tried a lot in my home.  I’ve had extended demos 2-3 months at a time with higher end gear so though I’m not an expert. I know a little bit. 

@mapman you make great points. Rooms are important.  Also it’s important to research the gear you buy to death. That is smart and that’s what I do. Everything I bought. I bought based on research and actual performance that fits my environment. 

@dayglow yes room is important.  

@ghdprentice great point.  You need time with really good gear in a good room set up properly so you can gauge what is actually possible. The more gear you hear the better. It allows you decide where the diminishing returns are.