devinplomber
You started what has ended up an interesting thread, here are my 2 cents. Yes I now trust my ability to find the sound I like best, and which gear does a better job of doing that......which are improvements, and which are just "different". That however is with training them or learning what I like over the last 4 years of intense work. I don't really care if it's the ears, or recording, or brain, or colored sound, or whatever. I now know what I like, and can generally pick that out with regularity.
Sometimes I get fooled for a short time, but usually get it right. I try it, removed it, try it again, remove it, and try it again, remove it, wait a while and try it again.....because I mostly subscribe to a "First thought wrong" philosophy. Case in point B & W and Focal speakers, their detail sounds magical for short periods.....but takes all of the joy out of the music for me, and shortened my listening time.
I do take into account other's opinions, like those found here on Agon, some reviewers, and at trade shows which I attend as much as I can......but always follow it up with my own personal listen in my system or systems I know well. The only 2 pieces of gear I've bought without listening to (or on audition) were my Clayton Shaw Caladan speakers which I love, and my Aric Audio gear (which every piece has been brilliant across the board). I've found that if 15 out of 15 people say Joseph Audio, Fritz, Revival, Pure Audio Project, or Volti speakers are really good, then that is at least might be a place to start.....same has happened with many brands of gear.