New equipment

Any new information presented has to be taken in context: does it genuinely add to the musical experience? Does it distract from the flow of the music or does it integrate? Does it sound natural or artificial? Is it merely the result of existing information being highlighted? Is other information being obscured as a result ? Does it make you want to play more recordings? Does it help make you forget you are listening to recorded music?

@larsman 

This is the final paragraph from @pesky_wabbit. He didn’t make a proclamation encompassing all circumstances involving new/different audio components. Just pointed out (Astutely IMO) some specific situations that can indeed happen sometimes. I’d be the last person to deny that the listening experience can’t be improved with better audio equipment.

Charles 

@charles1dad - indeed! There were a lot of question marks, and I was providing my thoughts on the subject in answer. 

And as most of the music I listen to is rock music and I live in an apartment, nothing is going to make me forget that Metallica isn't really playing in my living room. I don't particularly want to forget I'm listening to recorded music. I want to hear well-recorded music. Otherwise, I'll go to a gig and hear live music. 

@larsman 

Understood.👍

Charles

Like all in AG, many listen to their system and not music. And that includes me sometimes.  If they listen to music, why do people change their EQ? The phrase will always be "there is something better" but as I have come to realize were listening to different sound signatures vs the sayimg it sounds better.  A matter of taste is what counts along with a budget. I've enjoyed my setup for years, the Freya+ added some warm holographic imaging to my amps.