Small to large differences in sound quality on a high-end audio system are not always obvious to the untrained ear. In fact, one of the skills a designer of systems and audio products must learn is how to hear. Once learned, the next task is to train yourself to know what to do when you actually hear something good or bad.
The cool thing is to recognize that this is not something some people inherently have and some people don't—like the talent myth. It's a learnable skill that you or anyone else is most capable of learning.
This phenomenon is similar to the culinary world. While it may be clear that two preparations of the same dish taste different, it often takes training to identify the specific elements that set them apart.
Consider two chefs preparing the same pasta dish. An average diner might simply say one tastes better than the other. However, a trained palate could pinpoint that one chef used fresher basil, a touch more garlic, or a higher quality olive oil. Similarly, in audio, an untrained listener might merely prefer one system over another, while a seasoned audiophile could identify specific attributes like improved soundstage depth, better bass definition, or more natural timbre.
You hear with your ears but listen with your brain. While this may seem an academic observation, it has major ramifications when it comes to the art of high-end audio. Good listeners—Golden Ears—are made, not born. It is only through training that you can become a good listener, capable of discerning small nuances in music's reproduction that will help you build a great audio system.
No one is born with the "talent" to listen and know what to do with that information.
It is a learned skill that you can have if you want it.
