Funny, you would expect that the higher you go in terms of $$$ spent the closer you should come to the "ideal" sound of music. However it seems that there are always tradeoffs and at higher $$$ values the designers have favored one over the other. This results in a flavoring preference due to materials, construction techniques, etc. So high $$$ components (OK, most all components regardless of price) don't always sound the same when reaching for the ideal sound as you might expect at first.
I know a purchaser should always try out a component before making a decision, if that is possible. And at higher $$$ spent it would be stupid not to do that, but it certainly becomes very difficult when the rarity of these components and the small number of dealers carrying them in stock are taken into consideration. And show conditions, being what they are, are not a great place to do this, but that may be the only available possibility to many of us. And none of that is a guarantee of how it is going to perform at home in your own system.
