Trained ears.

Trained ears are overrated.  It can be mistaken for learning to speak/write like an audiophile.  Virtually anybody can hear differences in sound, but not everybody can verbalize what they hear.  If you know what a real instrument sounds like, then you have all the training you need to evaluate audio equipment and recordings.  It's not complex.

I agree that it can be taken too far. For me anyway. I do not wish to be come over analytical and I generally do not enjoy the time I spend listening to my equipment although some of that is necessary. It just not what I want my primary focus to be.

I can enjoy a song that i used to love way back when when it pops up on the oldies station while cruising through the country in my pick up with the windows open and that can be as meaningful and as enjoyable as an intense listening session with a high quality source of a moving piece of music.

I'm a bit of a gastronome and a fairly decent cook. But I can enjoy a can of Vienna sausages, a bag of Cheetos and a Budweiser too.

Anybody posting on this board is off the deep end....

but it if I am hunting or fishing, I prefer Landjagers, make them myself....

But yes, hopefully the listening is immersive and deeply and emotionally joyful....

there is a music section of the board here, what’s on your turntable tonight is my favorite...thread but there are others for CD, streaming, even live music. not so much gear and technical talk....late nite crazy marathon listening is the norm.....

What is complex is to tune the system like an instrument. You have a few components working together that must become the one. This does require experience and some knowledge in addition to hearing. And don't forget the room - it is probably the most important single component, provided the rest are good enough. One wrong set of cones under one component and the system is out of tune to various degree, wrong platform under turntable and it's no good, wrong or not quite right power cord on your Studer deck and something is lacking.