Of cuuurse, it's not 1/0.I would contend that the recording is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition
But the more we get into it, I feel the input and output is important, what's in between seems less important as long as it measures well .
Hence a good recording and well positioned (better) speakers have a bigger coefficient than the dac-preamp-amp as long as it measures well.
Just a tendency, not a rule and no need for rulers.