How do you determine that a DAC sounds good?

Thank you arafiq for mentioning the obvious, reviews obviously influence us.

The one thing that continually amazes me are the posts that denigrate others as victims of marketing, hype, etc. How do you know they're victims? Are you walking in their shoes, listening with their ears? This always comes across as fake empathy to me, or perhaps jealousy? I take at face value other's impressions, perceptions as being valid for them, I don't have the level of empathy that allows me to live in their minds/bodies.

I have a question for everyone. Who here feels like a victim of marketing and hype? I"m not saying its non-existent, only not as rampant as some think. In the marketplace of free trade, bad products and companies cease to exist. Masses of people make this choice, individuals only have this power as a member of large group.

@cindyment  Well then we're going around in circles. Does listening count as verifiable evidence? And what makes a luxury market different from any market? Plenty of non-luxury goods people purchase of poor quality or even harmful, humans may have just as much attachment to non-luxury items

. I'd actually believe the opposite, luxury items, at least in audio realm would have to perform the intended function well or better than lesser price items. I don't doubt there is some bias as to price/performance ratio, but then I observe audiophiles much more about utility than other luxury market goods. Performance is our number one intent for audio products, more expensive items expected to deliver superior performance. Performance here judged by listening for most.

@cindyment  I actually agree with much you're saying here. My only issue is, I don't presume most believe their listening preferences to be objectively valid, so personal preference all that matters to them.

Vast majority of reviews offer no measurements, why, because the vast majority of audiophiles don't demand them. I assume most audiophiles seeking pleasurable experience from their listening, certainly based on the constant change we see with average listener they are experiencing something less than perfect pleasure. So the question becomes, will measurements, listening or combo of both be most efficient way of reaching goal. I go to more objective forums like ASR and others, I don't detect any less or more efficiency in reaching the perfect pleasure goal.