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

@mijostyn

Excellent post. I really like Sound Lab speakers… they can sound incredible. But, like all planars, amplification is critical.

As much as I love the sound of the different electrostatic, ribbon, annd AMT speakers I have owned for over thirty five years of infatuation I switched over to dynamic speakers. I am happy and cozy with them. So much less trouble.  But that is just me.

@ghdprentice 

I have adapted to them over 40 years. Consequently they are no problem for me. The biggest issue for most people is the size as they are trying to use them in a room used for another purposes. I have a media room used only for music and video. The SLs fit in beautifully as you can see on my system page. We have another "living room" which my wife has dominion over:-) 

I have heard some excellent dynamic speakers lately. The cream of the crop is the Franco Serblin Ketemas. Great speakers!

@mijostyn sounds like 

small speakers > small problems. 

I recognize my mental barriers, just reading what you are dealing with was challenging for me :)

I mispoke earlier. I haven’t heard all of the higher priced gear. I have heard most of it.  Correction. 

@rooze I definitely understand your points. I can’t stand when someone who hasn’t heard something says definitely that it does noy sound different or can make a difference in your system.