Why do we demand so much from our systems?

Seems to me, @emergingsoul that you may be after a moving target. How revealing do you want, and what’s your indicator(s) for revealing? If it’s purely listening-derived through time as you encounter new products, you’re in a head game against yourself. That could be a hard one to win.

You gave half an equation - you liked stuff easily during uni and didn’t judge it so strictly. What about now? No system description from you and no criteria for what you value in a playback listening experience, means most folks don’t have much to directly compare their own experiences with (hence part of the reason for more time needed to prevent some of their long answers, eh?). 😉

@willyht interesting approach re: easing into volume, Stairway to Heaven-style. I’m the opposite; since I don’t make time for listening every day, I like to open up with a bang. More of a live music type-of-enjoyment that gives me. Then I modulate through lower, softer tracks, back-and-forth. To each their own and all, eh?

@mitch2 gotta be restrained with how to cut costs on our emptiness-nurse options. Where I live, I can listen to countless hifi brands within a handful of blocks for free when the urge strikes, but drinking alcohol means buying it, and liquor has a 100% import tax where I live. Sometimes there are multiple great options available, but zero cheap options for purchase! 😉

Personally, the Hifi pursuit, after picking up the Hifi hobby again after some 25 yes out of the loop, has turned to one of exploration to find out what sound qualities and characteristics I now like.

Back in the early 90s, after hearing an friend of a friend's elaborate Naim set-up, and what was possible, I eventually bought a Naim (Olive) bi-amped set up with Epos 11s. Fast forward; got married, sold my rig, got divorced in early 2000s.

When I did pick up the hobby again, nearly 3 yes ago, I went Naima again, as I loved my system from the 90s, and what it gave me. But, no. I found, now in my mind 50s, the Naim sound just wasn't doing it for me.

Perplexed by this, my journey is now a case of;

 "I Don’t Know What I’m Looking For, But I’ll Know When I’ve Found It"

...and I must say, I'm having a blast looking for it 😂

What's with this "we" stuff? I've enjoyed every single audio setup I've ever had and have improved the quality of all of it over many decades for FUN. I'm certain many other of the somewhat less tightly wound among us feel the same. If I'm trying out a new thing like a cable or speaker or something and I don't like it I can simply change it without descending into a puddle of psychotic angst. Get out more...meditate...join a cult...rev your Porsche up to the redline in every gear and calmly explain it to the cop who stopped you...he'll understand.

@wolf_garcia

"We" is short for "We narcissists."

@emergingsoul

What is your system? The more you hear, the more you hear what is wrong. Maybe tape cassette is a better medium.

Plus this isn't 1970. Our modern intercommunicated world is constantly bombarding us with new products. Too many choices with no way to define by words is bound to promote OCD / dissatisfaction.

Sorry this font is really big but can't change it.