Easy, the recording engr. that does the final mix. That person is what all the others get to judge.
Recording Opinions Please
CD and LP production is a collaborative effort. Of the parties responsible for putting out a recording, who has MOST influence on recording/production quality of the finished product ... the producer or recording engineer? Shouldn't one be able to point to a particular individual and say "... if so-and-so recorded it, I know it's good". Or, are there too many other variables to make such an assessment?