Do you spend more time analyzing the sound of your system, worrying it could be better?

@bpoletti Understood. I also like information.

@mijostyn yes my Panigale V4 requires a lot less tinkering than my 1988 Ducati 888SP5 as the quality of the new Audi owned Ducti is much better than the Ferrari and Cagiva days.

Enjoy that new machine and be careful on the street. I only ride on the track my man. And I am spoiled have Elkhart, Mid-Ohio and other close.

@jerryg123 , my racing days are over but we do have a bunch of tracks in the area.  Yes, it does look like Audi has positively influenced Ducati's quality but my 999S never gave me any trouble. IMHO the best looking bike Ducati currently makes is the 950S. 

My Diavel is faster in a straight line than your Panigale V4! Old men can still go fast! 

Analyze everything? Awareness? Doesn't mean you have to buy new stuff but what audio geek isn't listening carefully? 

I enjoy merely listening to my pile for the most part.

It's only when I'm into 'serious listening hour' with my diy efforts that I get picky.

That's also done when spouse is 'elsewhere', since listening to test tones, sweeps, or the same passage X times can make her crazy.

SAF around here has an expanded definition....;)

No complaints here, but it’s always fun try new stuff…

This is a good place to vent. I started the year with a Marantz SR6014 receiver, Fluance turntable, ortofon bronze cart, Vincent PHO 301 phono stage and Polk LSi 703 speakers and all was part of a modest home theater system. I was never quite satified with the sound for vinyl listening and it was ok for movies and such and it wow’d most people who listened. It started with upgrading my cart to a ortofon black and it got away from me chasing sound. I have ended with the same receiver but now have KEF R3s with all KEF surround, Rega Planar 3, Hana ML Microline cart, Rega Aria phonostage, Rega Elex-R integrated amp to separate my hometheater and vinyl listening. I went down a rabbit hole chasing this "audiophile" sound. It sounds AMAZING but then I was in a audio shop just the other day and the guy put on Eric Clapton playing through a McIntosh amp and some gear that was easily $20,000 or more combined. One has to stop and say, just enjoy the f**king music.

I think it applies to just about every hobby, music, cameras,musical instruments, etc the list goes on and on. But we all do it in slightly different ways. Some do it all the time, in constant striving for that elusive sound they are looking for, some get new equipment and are satisfied for awhile, content to just enjoy what they have until some outside force or opinion affect there choices, and I'm sure there are other ways as well. All are OK, we all do things differently.

 I wonder though are we ever really satisfied ?

The one thing I don't think most really consider is our actual hearing itself. While we are chasing that certain sound, our actual hearing is slowly but certainly going downhill.

So as has been said, just enjoy the music.

Great thread BTW.

no

I got into some Linkwitz Orions about 16 years ago and fell in love.  I'm still in love with them.  They're my "forever" loudspeaker and now I don't have to worry about all the little nits and details.  There are other loudspeakers I've heard that sound great, but my Orions still make me smile.

@russbutton Very nice!

Nope. I absolutely know my system *could* sound better - they always can, but in my case, for far more money than it would be worth. I'm never aware of any system deficiencies when I listen, so hey, I'm done and happy.

The only thing that makes me unhappy is when I play music that I enjoy, but it's only available on a recording that fell victim to the loudness wars era. Those I listen to in the car...

It sounds good to my ears in all ways. Who needs a spec sheet written on it? Be happy!

I like to experiment. What that ends up meaning is that I heard unbelievably good music in my system. OTOH, while I was testing a new integrated amp that I built, oscillation occurred in the left channel. Crap, um yah, not the best sound that I can have. In the end, it is worth it to me to enjoy music in new ways than before even at the risk of not getting it right the next time around.

 Now while this runs true for electronics, speakers are usually kept for years before I decide to change out.

 To answer the question wondering 'what if'? Why yes, yes I do.

No.  Too busy enjoying all the unique and sonically intriguing  music. 

I am as excited when I get a new interconnect as when I get a new vinyl.

Appreciating gears and sonics is the nature of this hobby. No one can claim otherwise while discussing on "audio"gon😀

That doesn't mean music is less important. It is the blood of this hobby.

Il maestro è sempre il maestro!

please elaborate on acoustics and Hemholtz, I checked on Wikipedia but didn’t find much, also I am curious about your favorite readings. 

The better lt sounds the less fretting. Had a bit of work to do to get there. Now that it sounds great I'm happy. Had a goal and spent time, money, lots of what I suppose was critical listening, now I  can enjoy. It wasn't easy.