Sdcampbell,
You say that "I haven't decided if the majority of music listeners simply aren't very particular about audio quality, or if they just don't care." Do you think it could simply be that one person's "goosebumps" is another person's "rash"!?
Therefore, I submit that it's a matter of priorities. and not absolutes, in terms of what experiences provide an individual the most stimulation. Many people who appreciate music, and have experienced all kinds of live performance, have heard my system. And they DO go "Wow!". They bring they're friends over too. AND, some of them could easily afford wall-to-wall Goldmund if they desired. They just don't desire it, and would probably use it for background music, if they listened much at all. Simply put, they don't find themselves being transported, or deriving the kind of ongoing pleasure that we do, from achieving the (near perfect) replication of a real performance in our homes. When they do happen to hear a live performance, it's more often accidental than intentional.
And let's not forget budget Home Theater systems, more specifically, the ability of video to lend a greater perception of realism to audio.
And though I cringe when one of my friends says to me "Gosh, your stereo sounds soooo much better than the Bose & Olufsen so-and-so just bought!", I do get some satisfaction knowing that at least THEY won't be wasting THEIR money on a Bose & Olufsen any time soon :~))
You say that "I haven't decided if the majority of music listeners simply aren't very particular about audio quality, or if they just don't care." Do you think it could simply be that one person's "goosebumps" is another person's "rash"!?
Therefore, I submit that it's a matter of priorities. and not absolutes, in terms of what experiences provide an individual the most stimulation. Many people who appreciate music, and have experienced all kinds of live performance, have heard my system. And they DO go "Wow!". They bring they're friends over too. AND, some of them could easily afford wall-to-wall Goldmund if they desired. They just don't desire it, and would probably use it for background music, if they listened much at all. Simply put, they don't find themselves being transported, or deriving the kind of ongoing pleasure that we do, from achieving the (near perfect) replication of a real performance in our homes. When they do happen to hear a live performance, it's more often accidental than intentional.
And let's not forget budget Home Theater systems, more specifically, the ability of video to lend a greater perception of realism to audio.
And though I cringe when one of my friends says to me "Gosh, your stereo sounds soooo much better than the Bose & Olufsen so-and-so just bought!", I do get some satisfaction knowing that at least THEY won't be wasting THEIR money on a Bose & Olufsen any time soon :~))