Think twice before concluding some thing sounds better

Hi, guys....I throw my vote and HO with geoff, esp. the last paragraph.  It's a moving target; your space vs. the showroom, your equipment and peripherals vs. theirs, and 'broken in' and familiar music selections vs. the unknown age and use of whatever, speakers in particular.  I'll give a nod to cables and connectors and the like....those who've spent major money on such may be able to discern differences between x and y.  I haven't spent as much time with their stuff, so I really wouldn't notice any differences...

And then we edge into taste and preference, Pandora's box in any discussion of improvements.  What floats my boat might make you smile and be diplomatic about it, all the while thinking I'm insane and have ears between my lower cheeks.  On the other hand, the majority of 'high end' offerings are relatively equal in What they can provide.  It's the nuances of their 'presentation' of any given sound is what we end up arguing about.  And that, as we've noticed, can go on seemingly forever.

I'd rather not argue with you.  It's time consuming, ultimately a little rude IMHO, and it's better to agree to disagree.  I'll adjust my ears, shut off my preferences, and Listen to what you enjoy running.  I've always found something that I enjoy in other's gear in the place they've set it up.  But I've got to Be There to do so.  Not being independently wealthy and of a means to inflict myself on anyone's 'audio hospitality' kinda makes that a moot issue.

If you like what you've got, Great.  If you think it needs tinkering, have at it.  You're the judge and jury.  Me too, but only for mine and here.  If anyone's in the Asheville area, my door's open.  I've love to have a pair of 'educated ears' give my DIY omni's a critique.  So far nobody's brave enough to take the invite, even though I promise not to take umbrage if they think they stink.  So, in the meanwhile, I'll carry on doing the improbable with next to nothing and be happy in my delusions. ;)

Oh, BTW...Happy New Year, y'all. *S*

Gentlemen, this is an amazing occurrence.  We're in general agreement on the subject in discussion. *G*
Once upon a time in the distant galaxy known as CA, I used to haunt Pacific Stereo outlets and other retailers to the point that other customers thought I worked there.  But from it I learned what I liked and what I didn't, and made my selections of what I wanted to live with from those.  In home demos didn't really exist then, and I wanted to get the best bang for my bucks and my ears that I could reasonably afford....
Very little got returned, and I became educated on the hows' and whys' of setting those items up to become what worked for me wherever I was calling home at the time.  As the market aged with us, and the esoteric telescoped out of my reach financially, I opted to 'detune' my tastes.  Rather than reach for the untouchable, I moved towards active eq and simpler 'tricks' to make what I had create the performance I could live with and enjoy the music it could recreate.   Which is what I thought then and still do now was the whole point of it....ultimately the music, and not the pursuit of the equipment that recreated it.  If it sounded good to me, it worked and was 'good enough'.
The analogy that I draw upon is this:
V. van Gogh created painted with what he could afford, as did many of the Impressionists'.  Jackson Pollock used ordinary house paint for many of his works.  Some of the blues musicians that are now legends began with guitars from pawn shops or other 'affordable' outlets.
We all listen within our means.  Some means are broader than others.  No less valid, no less satisfying.  If it makes you smile, taps your foot, or drums your fingers, or moves your soul, It Works. *S*  And life is beautiful for awhile. ;)
I'm still chasing an impression, a desire for 'something different' in what I've  listened to.  I'm just involved in a different approach, a pursuit of something I heard long ago that I'm attempting to recreate for myself for my own amusement and desires.  These devices do exist but are beyond my means to merely buy.  A Quixotic pursuit perhaps...but, as it stands now, they work decently enough to make me smile.  And I'm curious and engaged enough to pursue making them Better, to see how far I can push my personal envelope of skills and abilities....
If, one day, I can make you drop your jaw and widen your eyes upon hearing them, I'll know I'm getting there....
If I can make you drop the drink in your hand, I'm There. ;)
(Concrete floor, no concern about the mess....*G*)
We all have our goals.  My 'bucket list' is just a little Different...