@atmasphere You Stated:
"the most expensive gear might not be the best sounding."
Might !!, Is very broad in its context used.
I will say when I eventually / If I eventually get to experience the end sound produced by the most expensive equipment. There might be a sound discovered that shows it to be extremely desirable to keep in use, maybe more attractive a sound than any other encountered. Obviously affordability will be the realised constraint to making an acquisition materialise.
I don't see too much difference between either of our Statements, they are both Conjecture.
I suspect that any body with a interest in experiencing something that is off real interest to them, is with a underlying wish to experience the very best of what is available.
Gastronomes will quite happy put their name on a waiting list to be given a seat in a restaurant of choice with a year for the waiting.
A Photography Enthusiast, will usually make sacrifices to get to the place of having professional quality Glass in their arsenal of lenses.
Vintage Car Enthusiasts will Travel far and wide to see the most pristine models from their chosen era of production.
Vehicle Enthusiasts, with little interest in owning a Performance Car will pay to experience Track Days in Super Car with Professional Driver and Coach, just to know what it is all about, a Performance Car Enthusiast, I presume the Goal is to keep going to the day out is in a Formula One Vehicle?
As for Audio Equipment, there are many who are enthusiasts, that would like the experience of being seated in front of an Uber Expensive Set Up.
I myself have done this on occasions to the point I class myself as Familiar with an extremely expensive Audio System. Even though extremely impressive and always thoroughly enjoyed when experienced, I do not class this as the Very Best in Audio, neither is it the very best produced sound that I have encountered.
My own take is attraction to end sound is unique to each individual, so each has their very own preference for what they want to wed themselves to.
My inquiry was relating to what would need to be the supporting equipment to prove a particular device selected for Audio purposes is the Best of the Offerings.
If I made the Statement I have heard the best end sound from any of the Phon's I have heard in use, hence I believe this Phon' to be the best Phon' ever produced. I'm sure my statement would be questioned quite heavily.
The heavily questioning may be quite less, if such a statement is backed up with the types of supporting equipment used, the description offered will hopefully be one that can be seen to be with increased creditability, if references to equipment used are seen as cutting edge and at the forefront of design and function.
But most importantly, all the context of the above is conjecture, the experiencing and impression being made is the only way to assess how an end sound is one to be lived with or not.
@lewm seemingly decided he knew the quality of the end sound of my owned Phon's and suggested my owned and in use Phon's, were inferior in producing sound to others.
My Bespoke Built Phon' was over a period of time carefully worked with, to Voice it to my own particular preference. When the Phon' got to the end sound I was most attracted to. The designer / builder, made it known, my version was to be the upgrade option. I know I have got exactly what I want to make Old Bones with.
I also know Customers for this same Phon' design are extremely pleased with having discovered this as an option.
