Mood

it is also my case. Well said.

My experience suggests that some systems might be more robust against the perceptual swings that some of us experience. Right now I feel that my system is in a robust state because I haven't had a bad sounding day since I set it up like this. It's been pleasing me consistently, and it also seems to get along with a wide variety of recordings. I've had this kind of setup before, and it seems to have something to do with creating a natural, tonal balance that's easy to accept and enjoy, but doesn't necessarily reach the zenith of ultra realism and detail that some recordings can offer.

@asctim This goes back about 20 years. I don’t remember his name. I did a search but seems his posts have been deleted. Pity because you should read it in his own words.

I can not begin to match his eloquence but best I can remember when he had a bad mood, music would not change it. He described music as a condiment that would amplify whatever mood he was in. Just like salt brings out the flavor in food.

@cdc 

Thanks for the background info. From that perspective, I can see how music can be like a condiment.

@mahgister 

I agree there's a lot more possible in interpretation than just acting like a condiment. However, it's sometimes sort of true, when different interpretations are very similar.  I recently listened to a bunch of versions of "Jesus Was a Cross Maker." Judee Sill originally sang it significantly different than most everyone else who later covered it. But one guy sang it very similar to the way she did, so it came across as only "spiced' slightly differently. 

I am moody, and when I am in a bad mood I don’t even want to listen to music.

I found this an interesting:statement regarding near field listening:

It kills the sound stage presentation - or something to that effect

I listen in a small room in what I considered a near field/an equilateral triangle with somewhat over four feet between the points of the triangkle and about 25" from the rear faces of the speakers to the front wall . . . I always thought that was pretty near field . . . but I do get a soundstage . . . I listen in the dark and usually with my eyes closed and I clearly hear the audible illusion that the side walls have disappeared as the music extends beyond their boundaries . . . depending upon the source material I get height and instruments float in the air within that height . . . depth (as in front to back) is a bit shallow and I’ve always wanted the front wall to disappear the way the side walls do. I would say that I doubt that it is an accurate sound stage that I am getting, but I enjoy it.

(I have always wanted to hear the low powered SET with high efficiency speakers magic, however.)