I want to be moved and have the music touch my soul!

This is not meant to be flippant, but how about music selection? Time for something new? Better recordings of what you have?

It sounds like you have two options:

1) Figure out what element is missing. If you can't identify what is lacking it is going to be hard to reach your goal by making changes in your current system. Might be fun but it also might be expensive and frustrating.

2) Start auditioning other systems.

Finally, and this always gets said at some point: examine room dynamics.

I think you need to audition different systems. If they all bore you its time to get a new hobby.

@acman3 : "I am not bored listening to the car radio, or my friends crappy system."

To me that is important. If there aren't songs that move you regardless of  what they're being played on then the problem probably isn't with the system.

@three_easy_payments, I agree. But as someone who has never played anything (dabbled in harmonica for a while) I am awed by what even common musicians can do. It all seems mystical to me.

However, I am thinking about trying drums even though a 55 year old man learning to play drums in his basement seems like a bit of a sad cliche'. I fully expect to get a low priced kit, bang on it a few days which should be long enough to convince me that it isn't as easy as it looks and that no period of endless practice will ever be enough to make me coordinated. ;-)

"This is probably heresy. But my advice is to go see a live band. Go have a few drinks, dance, and get away from your gear."

That's pretty good advice no matter what the problem happens to be! 

"I sold them because my audiophile cousin said they sounded like crap."

Uh oh.

At least two people have responded that they can help the OP in ways no one else can but only outside of the Audiogon environment. @dave_b  even suggests that none of the advice the OP has gotten here is honest or practical and that he can solve the OP's problem....but only privately.

One wonders why such special knowledge and application can't be shared in the forum?

But, unless dave_b is a psychologist or psychiatrist I don't think his advice is going to help either.

The OP has already said he has heard two systems that have met his criteria  for soul touching and he got rid of one of them based on someone else's advice and is no longer 'touched' by the other one.

The problem is in the OP's head......or soul.

I can enjoy listening to the equipment.

But not for long and that is not what makes me turn it on every day.

If that was the point of this hobby for me and I could never be satisfied with what I heard then I would get a new hobby.

There is nothing wrong with that being the point of listening as long as its what makes you happy. If it doesn't make you happy AND makes you poor then that's just nuts.

You can take a nice trip to Italy on what most of us have tied up in speakers. Some of us could spend a month there.

Or two.

Think about it.

To repeat myself:

"The problem is in the OP's head......"

That is not meant to be derogatory. But based on everything said by the OP so far there does not seem to be a tangible equipment issue nor is there any lack of moving, well recorded well played music out there.

So if the problem is not external it must be internal.

Agree with leemaze. And I think this relates to mood. Sometimes you have to be in the mood in order to be moved. Sometimes you have to have the right setting to be in the mood.

Others have recommended chemicals. I've never used the chemical they were referring to. Not moralizing, my chemical of choice is probably far more dangerous, I just don't need another bad habit. But, I find that a little Scotch or whatever it is you like can help with the mood. I think it depends on the individual's response to alcohol. If it works the other way, by all means avoid it. I find that too much alcohol is detrimental.

Not suggesting the OP develop a bad habit, just saying, get in the mood. Relax. Stop listening to your speakers. Stop analyzing.

Another thing to consider trying. Think of specific music that has moved you in the past whether it is tapping your foot, dancing, crying, escaping/drifting away or goosebumps. Write them down in a list. Organize them by the effect they have on you. Then set the mood, however you have to do it, make sure your cousin is nowhere around, sit down and listen.

If you sit down to make that list and can't.....then you need to listen to more music and fewer systems.

Yes, more money and equipment will fix not being moved by music just like it fixes all other problems.

I think there needs to be a new profession. Audiophile Psychologist. There are clearly psychological barriers and expectations that exist that get in the way of music enjoyment. There are clearly factors that enhance and improve music enjoyment. Many of these factors are internal. Many are technical. Many are musical.

A good Audiophile Psychologist would have to have training in psychology, much of it in the same way a sports psychologist does. He would also have to have a good understanding of SQ and audio tech. It would even be better if he had several advanced systems in his clinic for testing and training as well as a large collection of high quality music.

Seems like a great way to write off a clinic with multiple listening rooms and great equipment.....all for clinical purposes of course.

OP: Don't forget to have your turn signal fluid changed monthly.

I don’t need an Audiophile Psychologist. I want to be one. You know.....how does that DAC make you feel? Did your mother listen to vinyl when you were small?

It will have to be positioned perfectly in relation to the speakers of course.