I'm not sure exactly where this fits in the discussion, but here goes:
I'm very much a measurements/technical guy, but . . .
While it is easy to break these products down with specs and measurements, this is certainly too simplistic a view for me. There is a tremendous amount of art involved. And this art component is easily explained. For instance, with a loudspeaker there are numerous technical parameters that can be addressed, each in almost endless fashion and to varying degrees. This leaves the final product with almost limitless possible permutations. This is why we have so much variability amongst otherwise excellent products. Does a Magico Q5 look and sound just like a Rockport Altair? A Vandersteen 5A just like a Thiel CS3.7? No, but each can be said to be technically excellent in specific, if different, ways. And they are similar in some important metrics as well. The best designers take a broad view, but even still there is much to weight and balance and eventually trade off.
This is why there is so much for the audiophile to choose from, and why we have such a rich hobby. Those that design audio components -- particularly those that have been at it a while -- will tell you this, and those that buy them will, too.