What steps forward were actually steps backward?

Good post, johnnantais. I find myself torn between wanting the impressive sound (and falling for it) and despairing that I am missing the musical forest for the trees. Audiophile and music lover, like Jeckyl and Hyde.

To Johnnatais's comments on timing, I want to comment, somewhat sheepishly because I know that what I am about to say borders on heresy or is at least un-PC in audio circles, that I wonder if the superb timing of cheaper systems (boomboxes, our car systems, clock radios) is in fact NOT preservation of the timing of music but rather a distortion of that timing.

I say this because I hear timing (and some other good things, like an extremely coherent and accessible presentation of the musical line of songs) more in these "cheap" systems than I do in live music (that's the heretical part). I've never been able to get into Springsteen songs, to take just one example, as well on my home system as I can in the car or on the clock radio, save perhaps for the songs on Nebraska. Although it was better with my old Quads than with the succession of highly-regarded dynamic speakers I've had since.

And another thing: I love detail and resolution. Why can't I have it all? :-)