Top two most important sound qualities

@bdp24 

Most loudspeakers sound comically "small" to me, the image of a grand piano, for example, being reduced to a miniature of it’s actual size.

Good point. I guess we don't expect lifesize image from HiFi because 99% of the systems we have ever heard don't have it. 

I graduated from bookshelf speakers to floorstanders and then 15  inch dual concentrics and whilst each one got better in this regard none of them have life sized imagery.

@panzrwagn 

Effortlessness - that sense of ease that allows you to forget about the hardware and just hear the music.

That's another easy one to forget.

Real music doesn't sound forced or strained but many systems do.

You probably need the right combination of loudspeaker and amplifier to get that sense of ease.

Usually that means bigger and more powerful.

Tonality, clarity, sound staging/imaging. In that order. 

@waytoomuchstuff 

Did you ever see the South Park episode blasting Stevie Nicks' voice? Hilarious

I like to be able to receive from my Cornwalls… as in be able to LISTEN, as opposed to HEAR. I’m lucky in that I can listen in my small space… not having to battle room issues, acoustics, and the obstacles of having TOO MUCH. Too much power, too much space, too much wasted money spent beyond satisfactory… realizing what MY EARS hear… not some self- injected You Tube expert says, and most importantly: TRUSTING!

2 top criteria of sound quality:

1.  Female voice: if that sounds good, your system is pretty listenable.

2. play Phil Colins' "in the air".  The drum should sound clean and fast. no rolling/decay low frequencies.