Have you ever hated the sound of your system one day, and loved it the next?

If you have trouble or pain in your ears on airplane flights, as I do, it may be you. (Us?)
Sometimes my tiny Eustachian tubes close up and my auditory system is transformed from bass reflex to acoustic reflex. Things sound indistinct. Sometimes I can clear it up by swallowing hard a few times. 

But I imagine I am in the minority.

Long answer short - at times my system amazes me, once in a while it sounds a bit blah, mostly it is very, very good.

2channel8,

 I think you have something there about Eustachian tubes,
I have problems on airplane flights too. When my set sounds unbalanced, I pinch my nose and blow, and it clears up the imbalance.  This tip was given to me by my ear doctor.

I completely agree with  onhwy61, there are may factors that influence our ability to hear, especially after 45/50, just an extra glass of wine may make a noticeable difference...

You may want to read Winter Blues for some of the reasons why properly function system can vary. Home HiFi is way more variable than most think.

An additional variable people seldom consider is the playback level. Some program has a level at which it is just right. A db or two either side and it's not. I've been noting optimum level on the jacket for a very long time.

Thank the good Lord in Heaven ...I'm NOT alone.