Sometimes you have to change you

I've experienced this over many years, sometimes it was the system, sometimes my mind set, other times the music and/or recording quality of the music chosen.

In recent years, system based dissatisfaction has been solely based on burn in of various audio parts (diy modder) or tubes, remaining mindful of this I no longer blame the system.  Music chosen is not really a problem these days as I mostly stream. I sometimes make assumptions music chosen will engage, at times this is mistaken notion, it only takes a few presses on my tablet to change out the music.

The one remaining self doubt or system doubts is when playing unfamiliar new recordings in my Roon library. I may choose any number of mediocre to poor sound quality recordings consecutively and the doubts set in. I  now ameliorate these doubts by playing a known high quality recording. While I still listen to mediocre to poor quality recordings, I now regularly mix in the known good quality.

When  the greatest variability with one's audio system satisfaction is recording quality based you're in a good place!

I also can't fail to acknowledge one's own variability in mood, this will always remain. Making your listening room a special place or your comfort zone can be of great help here. And how about a little mind altering help via a touch of bourbon?

Makes sense - the music provides the stimulus and you provide the response, and that response to the same stimulus can vary depending on a number of variables....

Sns,

I agree.  Sometimes playing a known great sounding CD or stream will ground me to realize it’s not the system that’s faulty.  I can then go on to listen to lesser quality sources and realize their flaws are not system related.

I listen to original LP's. It's part of the hobby aspect for me.

Often, I simply have to shut off the audiophool ears and listen to the music. My setup, or ANY rig just makes a good album more enjoyable.

I think that a variety of factors can lead to this.

The most obvious one is the listeners mindset.  Sometimes I sit down to listen and discover that I listening isn't the right activity for the moment.

Other times I'm am convinced that my system simply isn't sounding as good as it sometimes does.  I wonder about the power grid impacting the sound as it seems that during the day is when it routinely doesn't sound great.  This was actually what caused me to play with power cords a bit.  If money were not a factor I'd look for something like a PS Audio power plant just to see if I felt like my system sounded more consistent.