what percentage of us really knows sound

Juan, to answer your topic question (What percentage...?), I believe there's a large percentage of people that really know about sound, i.e. what sounds good and what doesn't. Most people can tell the difference between excellent and poor sound. For example, a first-time listener to a high-end system usually reacts with delight, pleasure, surprise, and appreciation.

However, because this hobby (like most hobbies) is driven by perception and experience - including the economics side of the hobby - you can conclude there's going to be a wide range of perception and experience as to what aspects of the sound are more important, especially for people like musicians. Perception and experience are as varied and unique as our fingerprints.

Nevertheless, while it may be almost impossible to create a definite standard acceptable to everyone, we can still agree on many commonalities in determining what generally sounds good as well as differences in sound quality.

With regards to the other issue you raised about personal financial capacity, all I can say is it's just a matter of choice - once again, based on perception and experience.

I guess I would agree as it always shocks me at shows, such as CES that rooms I left because of the bad sound get "best of show" awards. And I go into rooms where some of transfixed by the sound and I have to leave. But all that I have to satisfy is me, so what do I care. I have a circle of friends whose ears I trust and cannot say I trust any reviewer, with the exception of Michael Fremmer.

I have a circle of friends whose ears I trust...
Tbg (System | Threads | Answers)

When you state that you have a circle of friends whose ears you trust, I am going to assume that it means you have a circle of friends who share the same listening criteria and preferences as you. Therefore, more often than not, when a member of this circle offers an opinion of a component, then you can evaluate the opinion based on your commonality.

Having this commonality is helpful, but we should be careful of projecting our preferences onto others, and to further assuming our preferences are correct while the preferences of others are flawed.

Agreed?

Tvad,

"Having this commonality is helpful, but we should be careful of projecting our preferences onto others, and to further assuming our preferences are correct while the preferences of others are flawed."

And how is that any different than you telling someone not to project their preferences onto others? It would seem it is your preference that they do not project their preference.

Paulfolbrecht,
I haven't really heard very many people say that Merlin speakers "lacked dynamics." Which model are you speaking of? Have you heard the latest iterations? Not criticizing you, just curious as to the source of your perceptions.

Thanks!