I trust my system more than my cats. They like to run behind the system and pull wires loose.
Since LPS are way in the past for me, I am streaming.
I got my system. Flying solo since I don't have a local dealer. The good thing was I found good deals. Every time I changed, sold, bought, moved something I kept saying. Wow it sounds better. Now, 2 1/2 yrs later, I think it is more dialed in. I have not located others who have systems to compare to or been to a trade show. The store I have been to made me realize I could spend a lot more for not much more.
I haven't been to a small venue is sometime. It shows me what instruments sound like before electronic modification. I do find many recordings that make me wonder what the recording engineers are thinking of. I have seen some concerts where I could not believe the sound quality. Tool, Weather Report, George Benson, Chick Corea, Recently a Dead and Company concert in an amphitheatre sounded fantastic. Not loud, no earplugs, but clean wonderful sound. And then just to prove it, they send out a couple bass notes during their "Drums" version that rocked your world, and mine.
Lately, I have been just listening to the music. And I enjoy some of the newer 3D stuff. But also some old school recordings. So many voices have been messed with.