Good old days

First, I want to applaud you for posting about this issue. It's a vulnerable topic to post about, and given some of the replies that emerge on this forum, you take risks in order to hear from others. Bravo.

As you know, given your education, most of the music enjoyed in the world and, over time, has been experienced in ways that would not be defined as "serious listening." One thinks of the salons of Europe, table music, liturgical music, tribal music, party music, driving music, cooking music, romantic music. Yes, there are occasions when attention is paid in analytical or serious or immersive ways, but those are not the rule, those are exceptions.

For me, your question branches in two directions:

1. Can you divorce your own attitude about music from its monogamous commitment to "serious" listening? It sounds like you need a way to "flip a switch" — or as we used to say, "chill out," when desired.

2. What might you add or change in your system to help with #1? I think the suggestion of different speakers might be the way to go.

I recently listened to some Stenheim speakers. They were quite amazing, and did some things my speakers (1/10th the cost) couldn't do. But more than anything else, this system was different. It was "fine dining" as opposed to a delicious "home cooked meal." I like the latter, better — comfort food and comfortable circumstances — all done with care, excellently. 

Maybe that's what you really want to move to — aural comfort food, done well.

yogiboy and Hilde45,

Listening to a speaker that doesn’t do “magic tricks” with soundstaging might well be the way to go. Getting my mind off of the artifacts of sound can only be a good thing in listening to MUSIC.

@frogman

I can see how involving myself in musical endeavors might get me more involved in the music.

Don’t do it.  Don’t chuck the stereo away.  I moved to Germany for a few years to work there.  I left the stereo system packed away and used a Sony receiver for 2 1/2 years.  I even bought some B&W P6 speakers in downtown Stuttgart and I liked them.  (In a coyote ugly sort of way).  Once back home with my stereo the sound was glorious!  I had sure missed my stereo.

It can get expensive, but the best thing is to get out and hear some other systems- either in people’s homes or at some stereo shops.  Get an idea what you like and try to match that sound in your home system. Plenty of tips and tricks on these forums.  Sometimes the little things can make a big difference.

For many years in the past I would think about what a new amp, turntable or speaker would sound like while listening to music.  That is not very satisfying.  So first thing in my retirement I visited a few shops and Axpona and then I broke open the piggy bank and revamped the whole thing.  Now I’m like a kid at Christmas every time I turn on the stereo- for now…

tonywinga,

It isn’t that I don’t like the sound of my system, the problem is I like it too much.