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

I agree, it is way too subjective but, given all possible options, I would have to go with the one who seems not to care about anything but the feel. At least she/he would spare me of discussions about bare wires plugged into the outlet, magnetic shields for wooden objects, poetry about electrical appliances, and a batallion of tweaks lurking behind a corner.

Some times I wish I hadn't heard a great sounding system because it makes me a bit too critical listening to other systems, in particular my own.  I will also say if you do enough research there are people making amazing components, speakers, wires, tweaks, etc at reasonable prices (even cheaper buying used) and a bit of DIY you can create a wonderful system easily besting systems at 10 times the price you would of heard at a show.  

"" you can create a wonderful system easily besting systems at 10 times the price ""                
sure. I agree you CAN make a satisfying system, but you are totally fooling yourself that it is, IN FACT, as good as systems ten times the price. It may be JUST AS SATISFYING TO THE PERSON BUILDING IT... but it is not gonna be to the folks who 'know' what stuff can sound like. The statement is a way to convince yourself you can do it, I guess. Kind of like 'make your own "World Beater" cables. Yeah, sure, if you are lucky they will be as good as a pair of Mogami, but only if you get lucky. LOL

@elizabeth Spraketh thus:

 I agree you CAN make a satisfying system, but you are totally fooling yourself that it is, IN FACT, as good as systems ten times the price.

So we can infer your arguments are:

• Price always equals performance and quality
• The market is the ultimate arbiter of quality

I find these do not fit my own experience. In fact, I think that the pride of spending money is it's own biasing influence.  Unlike cars, 


Best,

E

Waste of time to debate it with someone of dubious experience.  :)