What do you care about in this hobby?

@mapman  More on eliciting emotional response as what I care about in this hobby … what are the attributes of sound reproduction that elicit emotional response for me.  
 

While in a broad sense many will consider the ability to elicit emotional response a subset of the sound quality category you list, I consider emotional response a separate category.  The attributes I will describe cannot elicit emotion individually, but rather together reinforce each other creating a sum greater than the whole. The ability to meld these attributes in a cohesive manner to reinforce each other is achieved to a greater or lesser degree depending upon the system and how well the individual components integrate together to reinforce each other.  Ok, long winded again.  What are the attributes of a system that elicit emotional response to me?   I have listed them in what I consider the order of preference.  

1. Timbral accuracy, including the necessary resolution to develop the color and shading of instruments 
2. PRAT, including the resolution of micro and macro dynamics that bring life to the impact of the first wave but also to the secondary harmonics and ambient decay. 
3. Bloom, That elective midrange quality that makes reproduced music sound natural and liquid like I hear when sitting first tier in the Met, Koch, or Carnegie.  
4. Image density and dimensionality, that must be natural and not exaggerated.  
5. Wide frequency response with an accurate but sweet treble and extended bass, balanced throughout the range. 
    

When there is synergy between system components, these qualities reinforce each other to reproduce the emotion of the composition and performance.  Some systems may do some but not all well.  That is why I consider it a separate and critical category.  Systems that do all well in a cohesive manner, elicit more emotional response to the music for me. The sum is more important than the individual.  

Sound quality but value for money. Value can be technical acheivment, part selection, engineering. Also interesting cabinet materials and design. Is there a synergy? 

First Sound quality, second performance per dollar (bang for buck), third quality of parts, fourth ease of service

For me, it’s easy, number 1 Sound quality

And number 5, Quality of parts. By that I mean, I like to purchase my equipment from well established brands something I can trust.

Bank for your buck is always great...reading the opinions of the people, here on this site,is very helpful. 

On the weekends it get crowded over there,alot of weekend visitors. 

Objective data supported by science and physics. This hobby is dying because there is no regulation in this industry, and companies can claim any kind of snake oil (read: lies) they want about their products to the ignorant masses. That's why they'll never agree to double blind listening tests without priming.

To me, this hobby is all about a form of minMax optimization, i.e., minimal cost and maximal performance.  Nothing less.  Nothing more.

Exactly!

I called my experience using a new concept : 

Minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold...

When you reach it you know you can upgrade for sure but it cease to be an obsession rooted in frustration...

Why ?

Because you had optimized your system/room so well you reach a level of minimal satisfaction. And minimal here means an equilibrium balance between all acoustics concepts perceived parameters (acoustical physics and psycho-acoustical one)

If you are obsessed by maximal acoustical satisfaction , the main reason is most of the times ignorance about how to reach the minimal level by optimization (i suppose synergy as starting point) an  ignorance which is  coupled with no available  time to learn, no room to experiment, and unlimited budget...

I was not in these case. my budget was very limited. I had the time being retired to learn in a dedicated room. And i stop being ignorant reading about acoustics concepts and some ways to experiment.

Then i reach the minimal level of satisfactuion. Trust me minimal here does not mean resignation to a better to nothing situation. It really means the necessary level to be satisfied and happy.

The maximal level refer then only to a situation with unlimited budget and knowledge how to do  the next superior acoustical heaven. 

I dont need it at all cost. 

squared80

This hobby is dying because there is no regulation in this industry ...

In the US, the industry is subject to all sorts of regulation. A manufacturer of an unsafe product can be ordered to conduct a recall, just as in any other industry. Its factory is subject to OSHA, its advertising subject to FTC rules. What sort of regulation would you like to see that doesn't already exist?

companies can claim any kind of snake oil (read: lies) they want about their products ...

Given that you stated, "Objective data supported by science and physics," perhaps you could offer some examples.

Individuals that express an interest in audio systems to replay recorded music are unique in how they like to receive an End Sound from an Audio System.

There is not a ubiquitous distortion that is an agreeable standard as a result of subjective evaluation.

The individual makes their own unique cut off point for where a acceptance of a distortion being produced is no longer an attraction to them.

Hence, systems are very very noticeably Transparent through to very very noticeably Rich in Tone.

Where does standardisation for audio devices fall into this as a design model.

It's rare to encounter such a meaningful topic. While sound quality is a deeply personal matter, every audiophile still prioritizes musicality. Ultimately, audio equipment is merely a playback tool, and its primary purpose should be to satisfy the user's musical needs.

For those of you looking to enhance the musicality of your current audio system, I invite you to try our WRT cables. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. If your audio system is worth over $30,000, you might also take this opportunity to further understand the crucial role cables play in the musicality of your audio.

Richard