Monitors

Sounds like you’re wanting a warmer sound, to me.

My experience is that an etched sound, which, to me, is difficult to describe, but I’ve experienced it before and the effect is that it left me feeling fatigued after I had listened. 

What’s your take on tubes? Wonder if a tube preamp might be the ticket?

@bumpy48 

Are you, in essence, asking whether upgrading in pursuit of finer and finer levels of  resolution can lead to fatiguing sound?

Sorry good people- been away for a couple of days.

I listen near field and over the years have improved my system by inprovements to almost everything including valve power amps and valve DAC. The result has been an undoubted improvement in sound quality. But, I have arrived at a system best described as etched (thanks tubefuldude). 

Its so clear and lifelike, but imagine sitting 4ft from a soprano singing at full tilt. Wonderful realism but enough to take out your fillings - just like a monitor system in fact its almost totally unforgiving.

Where do I go for relaxation?

"Are you, in essence, asking whether upgrading in pursuit of finer and finer levels of  resolution can lead to fatiguing sound?"

Yes, I guess I am.

@bumpy48

I don’t think there’s any doubt that this can occur!

However, as no two people hear the same or have the exact same tastes, the point at which any given system crosses over from "highly resolving" to "fatiguing" is subjective. 

Reviewers (and forum members) often address this, whether they be discussing sources, amps or speakers but there is no substitute for direct experience for developing a sense of where you fall on the spectrum. One reason to not buy anything you cannot demo in your room with an option to return it!