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

@orpheus10. I put a lot of time in the last 14 years. Listening to gear. I have went to several Audio shows. I have traveled to WHITEHOUSE TEXAS on 5 or 6 occasions to hear raidho, magico, Dali, dynaudio, Sonus faber, soulutions, music fidelity, accuphase, soulutions and revel. I have had in home demos of high fidelity cables, Kubala sosna and amplifiers, allnic, esoteric, veloce, Manley, Cary. I have owned Vienna acoustic, rel, Resonessence, classe, lsa, Sony, EAR, bryston, marantz, Sonus faber, revel, Gato, definitive technology, Kr Audio, Ayon and Audio Research. I have tried cables by high fidelity, Mit, clarity Cable, atlas mavros, kimber, clarus, shunyata. My close friends have owned focal, Ayre, mark levinson, rogue, oppo and Luxman. I feel that I have been blessed to hear all of this gear and truly see what’s possible in Audio and high end Audio. My journey is basically done. I’m going to stay with the system I have for a while and just listen to the music and enjoy it. I have my opinions about all the stuff I have heard and I have enjoyed this hobby to the fullest. I think hearing it all has made me a better audiophile. A lot of it sounds good in many different ways and flavors. Whatever you think enjoy your journey. I have really enjoyed mines

Naming dropping is nice but comes across as just another, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours maneuver. 

>>I have went to several shows<<

Enough said about your credibility 

WHITEHOUSE, TEXAS? Whoa! What? Is that right down the road from Dripping Springs?

I have never been to any audio show. As far as dealers and auditioning stuff.. Back in the early 80’s I went to Chicago to listen to a pair of Infinity RSIIa on the showroom floor down there. Nice. I bought a pair. I didn’t go listen to anything else to compare.
When I bought the 3.6 Magnepans I listened at the dealer for a few hours to my own CDs. I also listened to a pair of 20.7s when the dealer had them in stock. A few years later when I bought the 20.7s, no listen at all. Usually I just decide to buy something.
Like the Conrad Johnson ACT2 preamp I just bought used. NEVER EVER heard any CJ product before I bought it. Ditto the VAC Standard I bought used. Never heard any VAC equipment before I bought it. Same for the Kuzma Stabi/Stogi turntable I bought used here. I have more stress buying new and expect to hear it first. Used I just go with my gut. usually the item shows up... Want ? Yes? buy! there IS not time to go find one to listen to.If you wait it will be gone. And maybe never see another used for sale again.