High end audio design is both science and art.
Yes. The trick is to design for the ear rather than the spec sheet. They are not the same :)
The spec sheet emphasizes low distortion, But it turns out that the ear will be less sensitive to distortion if the overall distortion has a certain signature: a predominate 2nd and/or 3rd harmonic in sufficient quantity to mask the higher orders. If this is the case then it will be very hard to tell the difference between 0.5%THD and 0.005THD.
If the lower orders are not in sufficient amplitudes, the higher orders (even if the amp has only 0.005% THD) will cause the amp to sound bright and harsh.
You have to know this simple fact when designing amps, if you want to make an amp that sounds like music rather than electronics.