My question would be, if you can't tell what it sounds like when you listen to it, then how else could you tell?
We already know that no stereo system, no matter how good, actually reproduces the live event totally. Nor is there any recording sytem that captures it totally.
So, what we are after is what sounds the most lifelike possible, to us, and in our price range.
Or, in some cases, like your analogy supposes, there are some who would prefer some other "interpretations" or colorations to the presentation.
In any case, it is what the system sounds like to the owner which is most important to him. This makes "listening" the paramount benchmark of performance.
We already know that no stereo system, no matter how good, actually reproduces the live event totally. Nor is there any recording sytem that captures it totally.
So, what we are after is what sounds the most lifelike possible, to us, and in our price range.
Or, in some cases, like your analogy supposes, there are some who would prefer some other "interpretations" or colorations to the presentation.
In any case, it is what the system sounds like to the owner which is most important to him. This makes "listening" the paramount benchmark of performance.