LoFi

I recently got a WiiM Amp for the bedroom.  It feeds a pair of old NHT floorstanders.  The loudspeaker positioning is determined entirely by practical room considerations and not by sound quality.  There are no room treatments.  The source material is uncompressed AIFF files on a USB thumb drive.  It's not high end sound, but it's thoroughly enjoyable.

Previous to the WiiM streamer/amplifier I tried playing the USB files through a Sony soundbar.  It was listenable, but not very enjoyable.  Too much of the music was stripped from the sound.

I call my hi-fi system "The lab". It has nothing to do with music. I just like playing with gear and see it sounds.

I’ll never forget my first experience with modern hi-fi. It was Monitor Audio Silver and Creek electronics. "I’m hearing too much" was my reaction. But isn’t that what hi-fi is all about, high fidelity? If you’re not spending a lot of money on high-fidelity, then what ARE you spending it on?

Sure, you can spend 100K if you want to fill a large room with high volume, full range sound. But that is not necessarily better sound.

I remember what Elizabeth said about high-end. It should sound like a boom box but better. Hopefully much, much better.

It occurs to me that no one on this forum is in it for the music only no matter what is said.
After all it’s called Audio gon.

There are plenty of other music sites.

@rvpiano If you are already heavily invested in conventional 2 channel hifi, conduct an experiment...which is moving yourself closer into nearfield 4, 5 or 6ft from speakers and adjust toe-in. Determine if some additional level of envelopment/immersion is being created by the soundfield, trying to shut down the analytical mind.

If that's the case, BACCH  processing (by Dr. Choueiri) might be a solution at your regular listening distance...i.e., it can launch you deeper into the recordings..way inside, no longer sitting on the analytical fence periphery.

Or if you are too pressed for space w.r.t a big multichannel rig,, you could even try some nearfield multichannel like the following example.

Guy in the video is using some cheap gear, but, it is to get the general idea.

https://youtu.be/aGUs_FS7n8w?si=WbisatTuNFPuw63Z

I know hifi speaker and amp designers who sell you hifi stuff, but, will only do their personal listening (for enjoyment) with above mentioned deviations from hifi stereo purism.

deep_333,

You know, I’m actually thinking of something like that. I realize how much music I’ve been missing, and how much I’m enjoying music now, and how this hobby has corrupted my senses.

It seems a shame after all the dedication and expense I’ve invested to dump everything and start over. But this Hifi addiction has been ingrained in me for so many years it seems almost impossible to break. I’ll have to find some solution that includes both listening methods but not at the same time.

Or, break the addiction. (Not likely.)

@deep_333 

Thanks very much for your interest and suggestions.  You definitely have the right idea. 
I’m not sure I can utilize near field with my current setup, but it’s a great idea and worth a try. 
I’ll look into the BACCH processing system you mention.  Sounds interesting.