This is very complex and superbly important concept and with this I have pissed a lot of people in audio. So, while you participate in evaluation of an audio element DO NOT recognized the sonic benefits of this element in it’s comparing to other similar elements. It is way more effective, self-educational, less misleading and offers higher level of final correctness to build up your perception about an absolute performance of the component rather then it’s relative performance. You have to very clearly recognize what distinct the performance of a given component form “how it should be” instead to recognize the performing delta of a component relative to it’s competitive. If you do not accustom to mentally stratify a performance of an audio component using the component’s absolute performing level and if you feel more comfortable with the component’s relative distinctions then one of the following is true: 1) You are a clueless Audio-Moron who should run from audio with a speed of light. 2) You are an audio reviewer. 3) You are a blinded hostage of audio who do audio (started last month or 35 years ago) but never find any sense about your actions and your judgments. BTW (and I am not kidding) if you do not know what I meant but this post then it is very likely that you fit in all 3 of the mentioned categories….