The music’s the thing but....

Been enjoying the music later today.
This morning I got infected with "adjusting SRA itis"
Eventually I swapped out the Lyra that I just could not get to sound how I liked for my Scheu Analog MC SL and within minutes all was well with the world again.

It really is hard to just listen to the music and not the system.

State of mind maybe but the mind is a very powerful and cruel mistress!

Yes I find that the case as well. I am starting to keep a notebook of all my vinyl albums. I jot down what is the best volume, EQ setting, speaker placement (forward, toe-in, toe-out), etc.. for me. It helps me enjoy the music a great deal more because I know that I am at optimum quality for myself and without spending  $$$$$$$$ it's not going to be better. Hope that helps a little.

Agree with miller carbon--the "easy" tweaks make the hobby fun. The challenge is to get the right components in place, those that match your budget, room and preferences (speaker type, tube vs SS, digital vs vinyl, etc.) Once you are happy with the main pieces, that is, you know they will add up to high resolution, then you can have fun with power cords, cables, fuses, vibration control, power supply, room treatments--whatever you believe in or ascribe to under "tweaks". As miller carbon said, the tweaks make your good system a lot better in terms of information retrieval--hearing new instruments pop out, etc. Then the music gets more exciting, as well, and you are amazed by the system and the music--a bit like getting out of your own way.  

Interesting Thread!  I agree with you ,all of you, and if I add my grain of salt, I had dreamed a hi-fi dream, infectious one contracted with an older  mentor friend when I was 20 years old... I am 67 years old and like already said someone here, it is the tweaks that transform a system in a hi-fi one more than the money most of the times...Now at 67 for the last year I had my dream come true : I had a really hi-fi system at low cost + many exceptional tweaks of my own design...

When I had an ordinary system I enjoyed my known  already loved music really but I dont explored unknown music at these times... With my hi-fi system I explore in all musical area because all music sound at his best...Great hobby! Great music!  And by the way I listen more to the music now than ever...I discover more music than in the past...My best to you all...