Top wood...

As far as spruce goes there are all kinds , some just say spruce , some sitka and it depends on where the spruce came from. I imagine since most are made in China it comes from somewhere and it's a large country. If made in the USA then it's more specific plus a lot more in price. Between the mellow sound much depends on the body size as a factor.

I don't sweat the fine details. Each top of any type of wood say spruce same model will sound different.

You tube videos are useless and I doubt even if one could find one of interest in store doubt there would be more than two to choose from. If one went to sweet water then sure they have a selection. I don't even know if one could go to Taylor and try one out , doubt it.

Derick, blues90, TonyKgull,

Thanks for the responses guys.

Derick, blues90, TonyKgull, Jim,

you tube is amazing

Western red cedar with rosewood body is hard to beat. All mahogany has a unique, sweet,bass sound but a little shy on volume. My spruce/ovangal is super loud but mediocre in tone/color

Derick , blues90 , TonyKgull , ancient1 , Jim ,

My take on that video was; the differences were very subtle... in person hearing is very subjective.

I like every guitar I have as far as sound goes and each is different, noticeably. I did like their voiced opinions, though it didn't sell me on any particular one... as I said here, I know what I'd like, if I had my druthers, but too, that is based on what I have in hand and aesthetic preferences- I have come to lean toward larger body's for fuller sounds though, after having owned mostly smaller body (concert) styles.

The more expensive guitars just don't justify, to me, the increase in prices and I don't care what wood is used... obviously the name on a head stock does lend some credibility to build quality, which entails choice of woods, but not entirely. I would not even consider multiple 1000's for any guitar... unless I won a big lottery and just wanted to help an independent shop make their nut... but, there would be signs I won a lottery ... just not in expensive guitars. The older I get the more utilitarian I become and I have maybe 30 years experience in utilitarian ... with some bling... mostly in the boots I wear

Brand names don't necessarily equate to the best value. I've been perfectly happy with my low level taylor. Over two years of playing and never made any adjustments. It has low action, stays in tune, etc. but the sound hasn't developed much, yet.
As far as cheap guitars go the aria I bought used in 1977 has been excellent. It has never had any work done to it and still plays easy. It must be all laminated wood because its been rained on, fallen over many times, spent one winter in the back of a van and isn't cracked. The only negative is its quiet as a mouse. Friends used to say often, use a pick, we can't hear it.
The late 90's seagull with a cedar top has a good sound but is on the verge of needing a neck reset.
The early 70's morris flamengo guitar isn't that great so it hangs on the wall. It also is too quiet and needs a neck reset.
Did I just get off subject? Got carried away a little.