António:
I quite agree, all hifi matters must be understood in an IMO bases...
As I said in one of these fora, the question is there are a lot of parameters by which to judge sound. Dynamics; transparency; bandwidth; resolution; power; timbre correctness; and so on.
Usually one values some parameters over the others (I do it: transparency, resolution and timbre correctness). So when one is comparing gear one is not necessarily talking about the same things.
A good analogy is with preferences over women (we all almost all males, here, so this isn't a phalocratic statement). You may value the eyes; or the smile; or the ankles; or the waist and hips; or the bosom. Or the neck and chin. The list is endless. That's why we all like different things in girls. Again, it is all in an IMO bases, and I don't think anyone has a problem with it.
Now, with hihi, we take it for granted that we are all talking about sound on absolute bases. That is why we have arguments.
I never saw men having heated arguments about the beauty of women... We all know what we are talking about: 'But look at her legs!!' 'Yes, but that twisted mouth spells contempt'. And so on.
The real question is that we see much better than we hear. When hearing is concerned we most often aren't aware of the fact that we are mostly talking on cross purposes.
Take an example. Big Tone likes the Monitor Audios Gold. They are quick, exciting and go down. If you favour excitement you'll love them. But I am searching for timbre correctness and an extended and true sounding midband and treble. So I favour features in which the MA-GR isn't strong.
Does that mean he is wrong and I am right? Of course not: mixing my metaphors, he favours a big bosom and a large bottom and I favour beautiful legs and an elegant neck. That's all there is to it.
Edited to correct all sorts of misspellings and such things.