The music’s the thing but....

BTW, Breaking Silence is that good.

“Easiest thing in the world.”  NOT!

Absolutely!

But those moments out of “jail” are ecstasy.

If it has to be explained, the “sound prison” is the obsession.

Elizabeth,

”sound prison” is right.  Hard to escape.

In my experience as musician and audiophile I’ve led a dual life.
I started out playing the piano and listening to a table radio on which I learned a good deal of music without concern for fidelity. I could fill in the missing sonic gaps with my imagination.  I then met a friend who had a hifi system and my way of listening to recorded music gradually changed until I could no longer really listen to the music without concern for the sound. 
Now, I no longer play, but I bring that same obsession with perfection I had as a musician to my listening, which, of course, is absurd.  I have no control over how a disc is recorded, yet I have the same need to “improve” it, a sure recipe for craziness.

I agree absolutely with the above.

Getting back to the original topic, the mind is a fickle judge of a system and I hesitate to say this, but I think I’ve reached an unimpeachable (forgive the reference) conclusion.  I believe my set is finally where I want it to be and able to withstand the assaults from the psyche.
Everything seems to have come together with my recently bought equipment, and (no matter how much my darker side protests,) I’m really loving it!