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

All other variables being the same, not necessarily. IMHO, long term is more about deciding on preferences, not figuring out how something sounds. Sometimes you just have to make your best guess, put down your money, and live with it for a while before your know if you prefer it or not.

So many times I have bought something, decided on the sound and put it away. Then I will doubt myself, get it out months later, and yes, it still sounds like I remember.

As one audiophile's wife said "They all sound good, just pick one".

One should listen Youtube videos of live recordings before demo any audio equipment. All audio equipment are unnatural sound and human ears trick us always. That’s why even seasoned audiophiles can’t be confident about an audio sound and they keep change gears after many decades of their audio journey.

The microphone can’t lie. If A system sounds better than B system in YT, A system sounds better in real life. One should choose a favorite sound equipment in YT and demo it.  Alex/WTA

@mikelavigne  :"the high end is not gear, it’s a state of mind"

Word.

"Easily the best sentence.. explaining post to go with it I ever read in audiogon..."

I agree completely with @mahgister on Mike Lavigne's post.

calvinj

Thank You for the follow up.  Happy New Year!