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Around the time CD came out, things went very strange - Ortofon did a series of listening tests with "Golden eared" experts, and concluded that audiophiles preferred a rising top end - all their designs after that had that type of voicing.
Shure on the other hand concluded that audiophiles preferred a drooping top end and released their new series of cartridges (the "x" versions V15VxMR and M97xE) with an accordingly droopy top end.
I think around this same period (and presumably associated to it) was the blooming of the subjectivist school of audiophiles - adjust it till you like it, if you like it then it must be perfect....