Wasted Years.

I really enjoy utilizing great equipment to get the best possible sound into my earballs and quickly dispense with any gear that turns out to not do that. I'm an old musician and I also like excellent guitars and amps, but in the case of that stuff I'm forced to provide the music part myself which is a lot of pressure (and you need to keep yer chops up). I've always been well into the music part of audio as that's pretty much the point...listening to the gear without the music part is simply less interesting unless silence is what your'e after.

My listening space has serious audio limitations. My budget for new equipment is minuscule. My midfi/entry level system is unlikely to get any major upgrades. I have come to terms with my situation and now focus on the music but a poor recording still causes ear pain.

Music is life. Your system is a hobby.  Music comes first.  You make it great with a great system.

Given the choice, I would much rather listen to music I like on cheap quality gear than music I don't like on the most expensive sound system in existence. Gear doesn't 'make my toes tap' - music does. 

I’ve done a similar thing with listening to my system for years and slowly losing interest in the music. I got to the point I would not buy music unless it was perfectly recorded etc. My system and the level of detail etc. was what I was looking for. Slowly I stopped listening to music, I’d go a week and only have listened to two or three records. Listening sessions went from hours to minutes etc.

Recently I’ve sold off much of the hi dollar equipment and focused on musicality and engagement in my new equipment. I stopped chasing the big dollar items. This is at odds with the pursuit of the ultimate sound I was chasing, and many of my audio friends still are. But the long and short of it I’m listening to more music again. Equipment that’s musically engaging with emotional response is king now, not how much it cost or the newest thing /version on the block.

 I’ve stopped worrying about detail and looking for engagement and musicality. Was a hard step but when you realise the chase for ultimate detail etc. is a chase in the wrong direction you soon move back to all the music you’ve missed. I know some are still engaged in the hi detail systems but I find it tiresome long term.