Maybe critical listening skills are bad?

It is easy to get caught up in something that a speaker does that is not commonly found in such abundance and the thrill of that experience can cloud judgment; after some time, that very quality that attracted you to that speaker becomes its bane.  

There is a brand of speakers, I will not say which, that is extremely dynamic and exciting sounding, and most speakers sound comparatively lifeless, yet after a time, many listeners grow tired of its bright, etched, hyper-detailed sound.  It helps to have some experience and critical abilities to identify what may become an annoyance in the future.

I agree that A/B short term listening skills can get in the way of choosing good speakers. This strategy can easily work against you. By moving your minds eye (ear) around the sound stage you are evaluating things like detail, transients of one frequency or instrument, or decay of an instrument or sound. While these are important aspects of performance they do not add up to great sounding speakers. This can add up to analytical, highly detailed, fast, and lean sound with great bass and slam. The gestalt of these can completely be devoid of music, warmth, beauty and natural emotional involvement. Great scientific instruments for anlysing sound, but not for reproducing music.

So, there can be a downside. Some folks, from the very start get this and pursue the musical center... but in my experience they are few and far between and start (virtually without exception) with tube equipment and stay with it. I was not one of these people... I learned the hard way by constructing an incredible detailed system which was emotionally involving. In my defense I have heard many much worse... and much more costly. 

The longer term listening... A/B over a week (my preference)... but a couple of days works is the only way to access what is important. How much you are drawn in. and the sound field... you almost discover the attributes in reverse of short term... by starting with the gestalt and then working in on the major strengths and weakness in a natural priority.

@erik_squires 

Two things-

1- Critical listening does not have to be critical in nature.  Just relax and listen- take your time.  Before long you will form an opinion - do you like or dislike the sound and why?  It should not come down to minute differences- they should be obvious. 

2- If you don't take your time and listen to lots of music any irritants in the sound will show up over the long haul and you may not like that situation.  

All of the above compared to reference.  

I must be a martian...

Or my acoustics studies and experiments enlightened me...

Critical skills used to compared speakers are useless...

( save for reviewers who trust their "taste" and dont give a damn about acoustics conditions the look fixated on their new speakers which is ridiculous )

i use my critical skills not merely to buy speakers...But to embed them properly in a dedicated acoustic room...

I just bought new one, my last powered one stop functioning, i adressed the acoustic for the new one, bought the right tube pre-amp...And i modify the speakers vent hole for the better and the tweeter directional cell after few days of listening...

This ask for real listening skills unlike reviewers listening one speakers after the other in the same non dedicated room to sell you costlier upgrade...

The OP then ask the wrong question in the wrong way... And yes i want imaging and encompassing soundfield and natural timbre...No compromise here sorry.... And it is the third time i designed it with three different speakers pair, thanks to acoustics principle and to my learned acoustics skills..

Conclusion :

Each speakers ask for his dedicated room settings.. .. Listening different speakers in the same living room space without modification make no acoustic sense...i dont read reviewers...

Best to study acoustics principle...

The best theoretical book is Akpan J Essien "sounds sources"

The best practical acoustics books is Floyd Toole...

Between theoretical and practical all the articles of Edgar Choueiri....

By the way acoustics science dont change with the price of the speakers...I can embed well any speakers at any price...

Criticism of one’s critical listening skills ain’t so great either.