How do you know when a stereo sounds good?

+1 point each time I have to stop typing because the vocals demand my full attention

+1 point each time my foot involuntary taps the rhythm

+1 point goosebumps

+1 point all thoughts outside the music are ceased

-1 point each time I think "is VTA correct?"

+3 points when an album urges a segue (e.g. Listening now to Lowell George - "Can't Stand The Rain". The horns are hitting hard, begging me to grab my copy of Van Morrison - It's Too Late to Stop Now

-3 points each time my brain switches into "critical listening" mode, when I focus on descriptors like how deep is the soundstage vs. relaxing and focusing on the performers playing together

-5 points each time I think "what's on tv?"

@ted_denney even all that is more "measury" than I want to get. The more I want to do math and measure, that's evidence that I'm enjoying the music less. That's your job ;-)

Cheers,

Spencer

Do you have a suite of measurements that removes all shadow of a doubt that you are getting good sound, sound that you enjoy? 

Yes.

when the music becomes so INVOLVING you forget about the equipment, get lost is the experience

🤣

A stereo system sounds good when the experience of listening is about enjoying the music and not fretting about how the sound compares to some absolute audiophile standard. 

In my experience, listeners can achieve this by choosing their main system components and speakers to achieve the type of sound they most enjoy with the music they most enjoy listening to.  Cables and tweaks will not get you there if the main components and speakers are not aligned toward your preferences.  Once I figured out that tone and dynamics are most important to my listening enjoyment, then putting together a satisfying system became much easier.

because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know.

Is it clear now?

@dadork 

"It's important to me though to get it right with the equipment I have before I start thinking about upgrading anymore."

It is sad how many people in the hobby miss this point. Equipment flippers, take note.

Frank

When do you know your system is pleasing to listen to?

It's when the size of the sweet spot doubles and my S.O. curls up next to me, the corners of her eyes showing promise and mystery.

She turns to me and says, "I like this." And I'm not sure if she's talking about the music. Or something else. 

"Do you have a suite of measurements that removes all shadow of a doubt that you are getting good sound, sound that you enjoy? "

In the spirit of audio as a hobby, you analyze the frequency response in your room. Being a gear head, kinda like having the dyno report of horsepower or the time slip from the quarter mile run.

Beyond that, IMO it's not about the music. Music is emotion. That can be stirred with a minimum level of performance with equipment from Best Buy in a bad room.

Base on some threads, some treat their system as if it's a musical instrument and they're the musician. Not my style.

This is a question that gets me in trouble all the time; maybe in a different way than you are asking. I have had my system set to where it sounded really, really good; better than anything I have ever heard. I am sure from reading this forum that it  isn't the greatest out there but for me and my limited experience it's damn good. But then your question comes to mind and I start tinkering with speaker placement, crossover setting and such thinking it could be better. Unfortunately I usually lose the magic and have to start all over. It's important to me though to get it right with the equipment I have before I start thinking about upgrading anymore.

hilde45   + 100

A wise and reasoned response.

Questions are bizarro

When I get goosebumps or chills I know its good. However, the real test is certain songs will bring me to tears. 

I know it sounds good when the music coming out of the speakers matches what I think it ought to sound like.

When I play a recording I've heard a million times and hear something new I never noticed before.

When Listening to music becomes an “event”, where I experience the music and become emotionally involved.  When the music moves me and my setup pays for itself with each song played..  When there is almost nothing else I would rather be doing.. When my systems disappears and only the music is left.. 

When I’m not looking on here for new gear… 

How do you determine that you enjoy listening to music through your stereo? 

I guess I'm not sure what you're asking. Taken literally, this seems to be asking for another perspective besides my own internal voice. It's like asking the question, "Am I in pain?" That's not a question I can make sense of without some kind of science fiction scenario.

If your question is, rather, "What can I do to experiment with my stereo to see if my experience changes for the better?" then there is a wealth of literature available, including many free videos on youtube, etc.