Does hearing the best in high end audio make your opinions more valid?

I just think you have have to hear more gear to have better reference points.  I’ve heard those super high end systems and I think they provide a good foundation for what’s possible. It wasn’t just the cost of the gear it was also set up properly. But to each his own. If I’m going to take advice from anyone I would rather them have heard really good high end gear that was set up properly. 

No.

Not necessarily. If it did matter, anyone could win any argument simply by claiming he’s heard the best of high end equipment. At its core it’s really a logical fallacy. Case in point, go to a big audio show sometime and you can observe just how difficult it is to get great sound out of the best of high end equipment, including speakers and cables.

The more and varied the systems you have exposure to will help a you figure out what your preferences are.  Which, if well articulated, could help someone else to some small effect.

"The best" is a concept that I don't think we will ever reach agreement upon.

+1 for onhwy61