The music’s the thing but....

Getting back to the original topic, the mind is a fickle judge of a system and I hesitate to say this, but I think I’ve reached an unimpeachable (forgive the reference) conclusion.  I believe my set is finally where I want it to be and able to withstand the assaults from the psyche.
Everything seems to have come together with my recently bought equipment, and (no matter how much my darker side protests,) I’m really loving it!

This is like trying to "unknow" a fact that you found out.  Once you learn to listen to the sound, however much you concentrate on the music, however involving the music is, you mind will be there somewhere in the background monitoring the sound.  Dulling down the monitoring function (conversation with other people in the room, alcohol, etc.) is about the best you can do.

I agree absolutely with the above.

bdp24 ,

Yes right you are !Thank you for correcting my ignorance . Still as a Christian I am much closer to  to Bach's version . But  I imagine God is pleased with all Christians that do not hate .

bdp24, your posts are usually extremely thoughtful, but I am surprised at your “for the love of it” comment. Perhaps (I hope) I misinterpret the comment, but you seem to be suggesting that for (relatively) well paid symphony musicians (and others) there is necessarily a lower level of “love for the music” than for those who are not well paid. It is simply not so. It is easy to romanticize the artistic ethos of the starving artist or the idealistic iconoclast; but I don’t think it is fair, nor accurate, to do it at the expense of the more successful or the more forward looking. As always, thanks for the great posts.