Am I Bad Listener?

Itball,
I think enjoying audio is a bit like enjoying wine.You really need some basic "how to sample instructions"in order to gain a higher level of understanding of what you should be listening for.

Past a certain point the way in which a system draws you in becomes highly dependent on its abilty to portray precise 3D images.Once you "get this" you should be able to detect quite small changes in your system.

I have heard plenty of expensive systems that simply don't do this properly-and some quite cheap ones which do.

It is hard to explain how to listen to this though.The best way is probably to hear some systems which have strong performance in this regard and ask the owner to point out what to listen for.

Of course a good hi fi retailer should be able to demonstrate this.Indeed they should insist on doing so.

Aside from having the critical listening syndrome, which I've acquired as well, I think you also have developed what most audiophiles( not music lovers)have and that is chasing the elusive "absolute sound" Which basically means you'll never be satisfied! This is unfortunately one of the big drawbacks of this hobby; continually upgrading.
If you are others don't think this is true just look at how many ads are on this site on a daily basis!!
Having said that, I will also say that once you have reached the mid-highend level with your system, in order to improve on that you will generally have to move up another step, possibly two in order to get any meaningful improvement.
So,finally I would say to you look into tweaking. I've found that there're some good not to expensive tweaks out there that are definite improvements. (look at my system setup and some of my threads and responses)

Addendum; listen to the music not the equipment!

wellll, you do sound frustrated by the tone of your inquiry.
as far as i'm concerned, ultra-high-end audio results in two things (sound wise)- surround sound using just two loudspeakers, AND, textural detail, which is present on ACOUSTIC RECORDINGS for the most part. i used to play clarinet in my public school nerdy days (in the band), and my first instrument was wooden and everything, but it cost about $125, and sounded okay for a beginner, which is what i was. when i got to high school my parents, seeing me practice alot without being asked (prodded), bought me a Buffet R-13, which is about as nice a clarinet as you could want (about $400 back then- now they cost 4X as much). rich, chocolaty tones emanated from the bell. the whole tube of polished grenadilla wood vibrated under my fingers. my intonation (pitch) got ALOT better, and i could hit high notes that sounded clean and pretty, not like a controlled squeak anymore. that's textural detail, and you feel it in your body at the same time as your ears take it all in. we also had kettle drums in the back of the band-room, and when the music called for them it seemed the ROOM SHOOK with dynamic power they produced. the snares crackled, the bass drum made me hold onto my chair, and the cymbals would crash and shimmer starting from head level and opening up over the head of the guy playing them in a widening arc. then there was the brass section, the saxes, the sousaphones, etc. etc.
can your system send shivers up your spine? do you keep having to mumble to yourself "jeez that's good"? does time and space loose its hold on you often while listening?
then you have something special, and a pioneer receiver and a pair of plywood speakers will "rock you" but they're not going to take possession of you (without some good weed anyway- who cared back then- no one i knew had any money anyway...) well that's my schpiel, and i'm sticking to it.

For some time I have been wondering about my own enjoyment of the music. I wonder if it doesn’t depend on myself and my own state of mind as much as it does on my system.

There are moments when I realize I’m listening for details, evaluating the gear and the presentation, getting hung up on system faults... these are often times when I’m tense and worried and not ready to relax. I get all analytical and fussy. I couldn’t really listen to the music even if I were paid to do it.

At other times I can let everything go, listen for the musical message and not care about the details of the gear and all the rest.

I think I need both of those states of mind. Because of the fussy moments, I have tweaked the system until it sounds much better now than when I got it. But I’m sure glad there are the other times as well.

Some wise advice from Mark Marcantonio over at "Affordable Audio"

"It’s About The Music
By Mark Marcantonio

One of the dangers of being an audio enthusiast is that it is easy to get carried away thinking only of equipment. How it feels, looks, performs. We get so wrapped up in the boxes themselves that we sometimes forget the reason for owning the equipment in the first place, to enjoy music at it’s best for what we can afford. This is a seasonal struggle for me, as once October hits and equipment comes flying in from the variou manufacturers, I find myself locked into the mechanical.

This year, to keep better grounded I’ve self-instituted a new rule, one cd a day where I do nothing but sit back and listen, just listen. No analyzing, comparing, discriminating, only listening. My awareness of the talent of certain artists has increased exponentially. Secondly, I have found that after these “immersion” sessions my concentration has improved. A side benefit is that in doing so, I’ve found that my critical listening sessions are more focused.

Next time you just want to relax, put on some music, get away from the knobs, buttons, and switches, and just kick your feet up and tune into the music itself. You may just amaze yourself at how good your system actually sounds."