The science is clear. We can only reliably tell which audio gear sounds better in well constructed double blind (i.e. ear only) tests. The flip side of it is clear too. When we listen sighted, all bets are off. If our brains believe we hear something (which isn't totally controllable by us), we will hear it.
If you flat out refuse to ever set foot into a double blind listening test (>99.9% of the population won't have the opportunity), nothing can prove to you a better sounding gear (as determined in double blind tests) will indeed sounds better to you than a poorer one, if your brain has already made up its mind and the piece of kit isn't truly atrocious. [Of course certain things are obvious, such as insufficient output capacity and/or frequency extension, and we need to satisfy those needs.]
I think we all should just relax, sit back, and enjoy what comes out of our gear. Nobody I know listen blind for entertainment. If you are happy with the gear that you have or like to have, and you are not going into financial hardship for it, there is no need to get all stressed over by some numbers and graphs.
