How do you know when a stereo sounds good?

I dont need Ted products nor the DSP refine processing of our friend cindyment...

Why? Because my audio system is embedded in ACOUSTIC passive materials treatment and more importantly mechanically controlled with Helmholtz method...

Is my system better than the system of Ted or cindyment ? No

But it is so good i dont give a dam about upgrade... My system is under 500 bucks... All my device are homemade...

By the way we could create a soundstage out of the speakers and a good imaging WITHOUT great tonal timbre accuracy, but i cannot and i think nobody could create a natural great tonal timbre accuracy WITHOUT in addition gain a great soundstage...This is simply acoustic laws...

In acoustic reproduction of timbre ask for an acoustically controlled room...

But if i can create an impression and  an image filling the room without great tonal accuracy...i cannot create a tonal accuracy without at the same time creating a good soundstage...

Take my word for a personal experience, i am not a scientist like cindyment or a master in audio like Ted...

Feel free to contradict me...

A system does not sound good because we feel it is good.... A system sound good with minimal acoustical settings... If not it is an happy illusion... All my system were bad all my life and i always tought that they sounded good...

i realized that after my listening experiments in acoustic for the last years mostly...

i dont need my 7 headphones anymore nor any upgrade...

My system is not the best in audiogon for sure.... For the ratio S.Q./price it is the better or one of the better... 500 bucks for my audio system...

Dont upgrade before embedding mechanically and electrically and acoustically all the gear...This is my only discovery in audio....

Bad Hippie on is onto something here about being being happy with what you have.  About being content with what you have, I'll segue into this with this: I seem to remember Sinead O'Conner had something titled "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got."  Using this mantra, a fella can save himself lots of grief in chasing the endless stereo set-up.  For me, I buy the stuff I can afford/save up for and then say, that's it for spending money; after all, stereo is just a hobby and a non-essential life expense, for most of us.  

I've been a audiophile since the start of the 80s. During that time, I've found out that you start to listen more to the sound that your getting than the music itself.

You will notice that certain music peaces sound very good on your system and others sound pretty bad. That will be the case in just about any case as all recordings are not of equal quality. Also, your listening room will make for 50% of your listening enjoyment.

I started to listen more to the music and less to the sound. That way, I can enjoy music in my car, just as much as my big rig. It's just a different experience. Enjoy the music first. Sound is secondary.  

Take the measurements with a grain of salt. If I went by the “measurements” I would have never bought the Vandersteen's I currently have and love. Every measurement told me that they were 86 to 87 db and that my class A amps could not drive them. All the measurements in theory were wrong as my amps not only drive them but they sound great besides. So like everything gather all the info not just some and make your own judgement decisions and enjoy the music.

For me, it's real simple: Drop the needle on "Live From Deep in the Heart of Texas, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen" and crank it up to where conversation isn't possible, close your eyes and just listen to the musicianship. You should be about third row center in the concert, able to point to the musicians on the stage. It is a rowdy Texas bar recording that just happens to be one of the best live recordings I have heard.

Then drop the needle on "Waiting for Columbus" from Little Feat. Once again, you should be at the concert with some of the best musicians EVER!

Next up is "The Seth James Band, Live @ Grune Hall". This is Texas blues at its best.

If your stereo can recreate the concert in your listening room, you will smile, you will laugh and you will enjoy all of your music all over again.