Is your now then?

@oldhvymec +1
Hearing Andrew Jones’ TAD1 system at 2002 CES stunned me. My current system is satisfying but I just remember how his room floored me.
I still hang out with some high school buddies who have their systems from the 70’s—Marantz receivers, JBL speakers, Thorens or Philips TT’s. They’re happy with that but I remember those systems sounding better back in the day.
I have sense moved up the audio food chain. A modern well thought out system is far more enjoyable to me now.

jpwarren58

Do you think we strive to return to the past and remain in those influential times?

It's impossible to return to the past. What would be the point of even trying?

Technology, the foundation that hifi is built on, has advanced a lot as one would expect  over the last 50 years or so. So that’s that.

Newfound best friend had Dynaco quad system setup with Linn LP12. No other system I'd heard prior had that sense of realism. I tried to replicate that sound for years with various systems, no dice. Finally figured out I was trying to recreate that initial sense of wonderment. Took me a long time to understand at least some of those systems were objectively better.
Nowadays, my system objectively leagues better and emotionally far more involving than that Dynaco setup. You can choose to live in delusion and nostalgia or you can move on.

My experience is quite similar to @ghdprentice.  Incremental changes have slowly upgraded my system & the sound. I research my purchases and make sure they help in a weak area. One step at a time until I believe I could happily demonstrate my system for anyone. Can it be better? There is aalways better. But I have worked within my budgetto make a very good system but it took time.