Sometimes you have to change you

I've experienced this over many years, sometimes it was the system, sometimes my mind set, other times the music and/or recording quality of the music chosen.

In recent years, system based dissatisfaction has been solely based on burn in of various audio parts (diy modder) or tubes, remaining mindful of this I no longer blame the system.  Music chosen is not really a problem these days as I mostly stream. I sometimes make assumptions music chosen will engage, at times this is mistaken notion, it only takes a few presses on my tablet to change out the music.

The one remaining self doubt or system doubts is when playing unfamiliar new recordings in my Roon library. I may choose any number of mediocre to poor sound quality recordings consecutively and the doubts set in. I  now ameliorate these doubts by playing a known high quality recording. While I still listen to mediocre to poor quality recordings, I now regularly mix in the known good quality.

When  the greatest variability with one's audio system satisfaction is recording quality based you're in a good place!

I also can't fail to acknowledge one's own variability in mood, this will always remain. Making your listening room a special place or your comfort zone can be of great help here. And how about a little mind altering help via a touch of bourbon?

Makes sense - the music provides the stimulus and you provide the response, and that response to the same stimulus can vary depending on a number of variables....

Sns,

I agree.  Sometimes playing a known great sounding CD or stream will ground me to realize it’s not the system that’s faulty.  I can then go on to listen to lesser quality sources and realize their flaws are not system related.

I listen to original LP's. It's part of the hobby aspect for me.

Often, I simply have to shut off the audiophool ears and listen to the music. My setup, or ANY rig just makes a good album more enjoyable.

I think that a variety of factors can lead to this.

The most obvious one is the listeners mindset.  Sometimes I sit down to listen and discover that I listening isn't the right activity for the moment.

Other times I'm am convinced that my system simply isn't sounding as good as it sometimes does.  I wonder about the power grid impacting the sound as it seems that during the day is when it routinely doesn't sound great.  This was actually what caused me to play with power cords a bit.  If money were not a factor I'd look for something like a PS Audio power plant just to see if I felt like my system sounded more consistent.  

Our subconscious know more than us especially with hearing...

For sure sometimes i am tired and my attention is not in the music...

This is fact...

But when i dont seems to like what i hear, the sound, it is because there is an acoustic tuning problems in my system /room... It is because of this subconscious guidance and with his help that i tuned my room in a long process over many months ...

It is no more the case... All recording sound good now, some are better recorded for sure...

But sometimes we are not in the mood or necessary concentration needed for some music style....

My system was well chosen 7 years ago...Acoustic tuning of the room  has take much time...But when it is finished, ALL recordings sounded interesting, even the bad one, because i can listen to the acoustic cues chosen, during and by the bad recording process and i can understand them better now and benefit anyway from the music ...

It is easier to listen music when you can hear a "revealing" set of acoustical cues emerging from your speakers/room TRANSLATION of the source...There is no perfect  reproduction, only acoustic translation in normal small room, save in an  anechoic room...

Each music ask for a new pair of ears save if you are a rabbit.... 😁😊

Each music ask for the same attention save if you are only a man of habit....

Each sound in a good room convey the music at least a bit....

Sometimes, i ask myself , how this room being there, around my head can so well fit ?

Yes of course, we need to tune ourselves to perception.

The best system upgrade is a few days of not listening to our system.

when i am dissatisfied with a particular recording, i have been known to rip it onto my hard drive and apply various of DSP to it, then burn another disc and listen to that disc instead, with greater satisfaction than with the original disc. 

I’ve never felt it was the source music causing me to react differently as that does not change. My system hasn’t changed either. I normally listen at night before going to bed. That being said it is me that changes and causes me to have slightly different listening experiences. Our brain and our body are by far the most sophisticated components in our listening rooms. Our frame of mind, our daily aches and pains, stress or anxiety all affect our listening experience. When we are relaxed, comfortable and "in the mood" our enjoyment is greater and the same recording we’ve always known from the same source, puts us in the zone. I believe the room is just as important as the gear that effects our listening enjoyment. I have a dedicated closed room with no windows and 3 zones of lighting control and when dimmed down I become very relaxed and my comfortable chair helps melt the days events away to where I can thoroughly enjoy the music.

I have experienced this many times over the years.  It usually centers around pace rather than tonality, timbre etc.

My remedy is to set the volume at zero and then put a 78 on my 1917 Victrola and crank it and listen to a few minutes (one side).

Going back to the main rig and all is well!  Self-deception can be a friend or a foe.

Regards,

barts

It always amazes and confuses me that I can listen to an album on Monday and love it and then listen again on Thursday and Meh, it does nothing for me.

JD

So I guess you you could say:

Its no GOOD  

if you’re not in the MOOD

If you're not in the MOOD, it spells DOOM for your listening session.

I used to think my system sounded different at different times but then realized it’s me

The most difficult component to get right in your system. Your head.

Amen!

Good to know that I am not alone on this subject.

Glad to say, last night my system sounded its absolute best.  Yes, my mood was very good to begin with.  The music selection was also very good.  The stars just seemed to align very nicely.  A very enjoyable music listening session.

True to form, today I’m a happy camper.  My system sounds just great.

Yesterday I couldn’t stand it!

And again, my system today also sounded wonderful.

Can't wait for tomorrow😊