Equipment is designed in the eye of the beholder and you need to agree with their sound-picture if the equipment is going to do it for you. I find that certain designers (e.g. Charlie Hansen of Ayre, Nelson Pass of Pass Labs) can do no wrong by my ears while others (Naim) leave me cold.

Once you understand that, it's rather easier to navigate the hi-fi badlands and find equipment that you're going to like. Variety is the spice of life and we all like something slightly different, so accepting that makes for good conversation and little need for partisanship.