How do I know if my systems any good?


I'm not able to leave my house due to a long-standing injury, so I'm unable to hear anyone else's system. I could list out my components but not sure what that would achieve.  Lets assume they're all fine pieces.

what are the things that should be considered when listening and judging an audio system that combines streaming and home theater via bypas thru a preamp.

Maybe it's a great system.  

emergingsoul

All of what you said is right...

But your forgot to mention that nevermind our different tastes, nevermind our different histories,  we can all understood what is a good soundfield when we meet and immerse in it, as you rightfulle said BUT  you forgot to mention that there is a reason why? but you guess it right... There is an objective reason... Acoustic is the reason why... And acoustic has nothing vto do with taste...

The same reason by which audio science progress, not only in engineering is  acoustic and psych-acoustic experiments ...As the revolutionary Choueri BACCH filters for example or the tuned resonators grid in my headphone...

All audiophile vocabulary express something about audio component experience which is subjective.... But acoustic science is objective facts and psycho-acoustic too and help to understand our experience and putting concept on it.Then help us to design simple listening experiments to improve what we already own BEFORE blindly upgrading it...

Elementary very simple basic principle in acoustic guided me toward sonic heaven  with listening experiments... Most audiophile ignore and dont bother themselves by experimenting with it and this is the main reason behind consumerism upgraditis and frustration,...Nothing else...

@mahgister: Well, assuming that the sound perception is personal and subjective:

What would be the point of discussing sound systems and good sound in general if everyone has different opinion and sound preference. And how do we explain the fact that most of us agreed when it comes to good recordings, good music venues around the world, good symphony or musical performances in general, good hi-fi shows or bad ones? Obviously, we hear and perceive sound in a similar and uniformed way. On the other hand, I agree that we have different preference in music genres and that might well influence the overall expectation of one"s sound system performance. However, that should not be a major factor when it comes to a good objective sound perception of music. 

Is your system engaging and satisfying? I am retired and listen about three hours a day and have to tear myself away each night. My system is the result of 50 years of research, effort, and investment.

 

A generality. Regardless of how good your system is, it can be significantly better when investing 2x in a component or the entire system. However, it cannot be blind investment… the investment must be in components that play to your tastes and compatible with your other components. To be able to do this, you must read extensively (and/or audition), I recommend professional reviews: Stereophile, The Absolute Sound, HiFi+. Read about your components… then others.

Given you cannot go out. After researching, try upgrading one component. What is the effect? If estatic… congratulations. Move on to the next.

Also, I agree with @mjcmt, musicality turns out to be the most satisfying parameter over time. The thing that emotionally involves you in the music. Many of us have moved to tubes in our old age, because they are musical.

If you haven’t read Robert Harley’s, the ultimate guide to High end Audio… it will point you in the right direction.

 

We could probably be of some help if you post photos of your system. Lots of time you can get greater sound just by moving things around, or upgrading a single component.

 

 

If you’re emotionally captivated by the musician(s) performance and your sense of the daily time clock has vanished then I’d suggest it’s working.