The Absurdity of it All

Hearing varies from person to person. Thats a given. My hearing, like my sense of smell, taste, vision, touch they all vary day to day. Does your morning coffee/tea/vodka taste the same every day?

I maintain a fairly regular and stable diet. Don't drink or partake in the MJ. Some days, my set up sounds absolutely amazing.

Other days, I wonder what the hell am I doing with this stuff, it sucks! Its dull, lifeless, zero depth. Everything has to go. Gotta start from scratch.

Then, after I remove the IEM's I forgot about, everything is right in the world again :)

We are organic, not digital or analog. Our senses are not constants in the universe, they vary.

Perhaps, tweaks/adjustments/components should only be critically listened to on the days when our hearing is at its best. But I suspect its like a leaky roof. Not going out there in the rain to fix it, and when it's sunny, who wants to fix the roof when you can just bask in the sunlight.

Or great sound....

If anyone relies on anyone on this thread about what sounds best, you are a fool. You lack the spine to think for yourself. Most people who throw many years about how long they have been listening or, buying music is just their own opinion in what they hear. It doesn’t mean that they are right or wrong. It’s typically a generational gap. As time changes, so does music. If you don’t think so, then you are a bigger fool than I thought. Your arrogance is truly  noted. You can educate without being arrogant. I’m sure it’s hard for some to do but if you truly care about what we call a hobby or an enthusiast, try harder to be understanding because what you listen to 10, 20, 30, or even 40 years ago was produced for those years and definitely sound different. I myself listen to all types of music without any stereotypes because I truly understand how and why music was produced back then as well as now. During those times, it was known that the musicians would go for a specific type of sound and of course audio equipment was geared towards the type of sound during those generations. I definitely don’t pass judgment in regards to what type of music sounds better. That is so arrogant and quiet frankly self centered with the lack of ability to be a sprung. Do you honestly think that the teenager or that young adolescent is listening to you? Trust me they are not and it is due to how you speak with them. At the end of the day buy the gear that sounds best to you with the type of music you prefer to listen to. Don’t be suckered based on what people say. I’ve been to some of the well noted HiFi stores and shows across the world. I probably represent the 5-10% that has done that, and no, I’m not an editor for some magazine. I’m just a person who truly enjoys music weather it is a live concert, studio master recordings, DJ, or digitally synthesis. These stores use the same old pitch that what they sell is the best, lol. Apparently they all went to the same school of thought for how to sell a hi-end product, and yes most of them are of middle to late in age. Last advice, let your ears be your voice on what you hear, like or dislike not the folks including myself on this site. What you will get from me at the end of the day is truth and painful honesty, not forced down your throat opinions. 
Enjoy the music o your system and let it moves your soul as mine does!

^^^
Any other nuggets?

These stores use the same old pitch that what they sell is the best, lol.

I always love the ones that try to convince you that they or you can pick out the sonic character of a source or amp or preamp in their store, in their room, and not with your speakers. Priceless.

i think what the OP is saying is that all of this comes down to what you hear or interpret in the music based on the condition of your hearing. How it brings back your aural memories of the live performances or simply past days of listening.   Quality of  sound reproduction is critical no matter where you are in life but the individuals experience is what matters most and that varies from indivdual to individual.  That said at 68 I have yet to reach audiophile Nirvana, but I do have a couple damn good systems, at least to these well aged ears, could and will eachsystem  get better, of course.  We are all addicts to some degree.