Back in the early 'aughts' ('02-'04), just as SACD was being touted as the latest greatest format, I had a small retail shop. I didn't sell SACD players, but there was sufficient interest to get me to go buy one to be able to do comparos. People buying into conventional wisdom expected SACD to sound best, followed by CD trailed badly by vinyl. Man were they shocked when, in informally blind comparos, SACD came in dead last, CD in the middle and vinyl waaaay ahead.
I didn't have my Otari 5050 at that point, but from what I've heard since, including a visit from Charlie King and his Stellavox at the last VSAC, reel-to-reel is the Killer Diller, but I haven't quite made it to the commitment level to upgrade the beast, create bullet-proof packaging and ship it to audio shows. I'm really tempted, though.