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

unless of course the amplifier and speaker designer are one and same with a deep understanding of both the load and amplifiers to deal with it, tame as it might be. 

A unique high end state of mind is the ability to understand the trade off inherent in a particular design ( edge clamping distortion and energy storage / release are just 2 attributes of planers…there are more ), being able to relate those to measure and listen results and move the ball forward without being a my way or the highway blowhard …ah that’s a high end audiophile to know….. i seek them out….

Please note i own both planer and point source, oh and a former that approximate the latter ( RIP Peter )

OP i appreciate your correction…. most creates doubt…. wondering how many tonearms you have heard ? …. while controlling the other variables……

@asvjerry I would say, knowing Brian as i do…it’s likely a hybrid  oat - wheatberry treble… His reference system is centered around Quad 57 and Croft tube gear… he is on my list of state of mind people to maintain a learning friendship with

@waytoomuchstuff You had me interested at wineglass, sold at Dog. Bless you too !

@tomic601 a few years ago during this journey the owner of a company o worked with swapped out gear 2 to 3 times a year which led to about 5 or 6 years of long extended 2 to 3 month demos with gear.  I haven’t ears as many turntables as digital but that combined with knowing a dealer named Dave Baskin who had ALS and was literally on a mission to hear as many systems as he could put together and he put together many because he had the resources. These experiences has alllowed me to run through a lot of gear on long demos. I been blessed. 

@tomic601 turntables are a whole other monster. $$. I haven’t heard the number of turntables as opposed to digital. I have heard some turntables but not the really expensive ones. My turntable knowledge is limited