How good is good enough?

@hilde45

“that criteria can be settled in advance, with examples marching in afterwards to be judged like contestants in a beauty contest”

The question is not based on an objective reality, but how good enough it is for YOU?

If the queston is not based on reality and acoustics parameters and acoustic satisfaction ..

Then the question is a question about psychology...

Easy to answer...

There are normal people happy with what they have so imperfect it is and they listen music ..

There is people obsessed by sound who are never satisfied because they never look at the right place to be satisfied: acoustics basic .. Instead their pleasure is to buy without end the gear ...

There is a few like me completely happy to listen music in a mechanically , electrically and acoustically well embedded basically good modest system /room who has reached the minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold or very costly well embedded system/room as Mike Lavigne who had reach the maximal acoustical satisfaction threshold ...Because we learned how to do it ...

Three groups ...No more ...

The question is not based on an objective reality, but how good enough it is for YOU

@jonwolfpell

Doesn’t it essentially depend on both how much music reproduction means to us in conjunction w/ the number of 0’s in our bank account?

I’d argue it also depends up now much MUSIC means to us, as opposed to its reproduction. Some guys seem to only be capable of enjoying music unless it’s presented optimally. There’s been an exhibit of Van Gogh works in Sacramento, which involves projecting them on museum walls much larger than life, so attendees feel they’re "inside" the paintings. This suggests a widespread dulling of aesthetic sensitivity. Nothing reaches people unless they experience the "IMax’ version. If you are wealthy, this is not necessarily an issue. But if you’re not, I’d suggest it’s advantageous to have/cultivate a capacity for appreciating art, first and foremost, which has nothing to do with gear. Then, you appreciate a more refined presentation as a luxury rather than a requirement. 

My 'good enuf' was when I had to accept the fact (OCD or not) that I had probably optimized the only room I had which would accomodate my audio habits.  Since I designed my house I felt I was stuck with it, and I am. But I'm happy. :-)

I just reached mine yesterday adding a second sub to my stand mounted integrated amp driven CD player. I started when I was 20 now 75.

Now I gotta focus on increasing my hearing range, which begs the question what is listening thru hearing aids like?

"More than 40% of people over 70 have difficulty hearing, compared to around 5% of people under 40. On average, the hearing threshold worsens by one decibel every year after the age of 50."