Maybe critical listening skills are bad?

At the end acoustics is the vital part indeed...

i can do acoustics specific implementation with any system or speakers nevermind the one chosen at any cost, what matter is the end result for my ears with the chosen speakers for my budget, in a specific room...

Acoustics principles dont change with the branded name speakers design...You do the acoustic instalment in function of the speakers design anyway...

Acoustics implementation is not buying panels either , it is a business for people who cannot use a dedicated room only a living room ....

it is using the principles of acoustics to design a dedicated room for a main user...

Great Hall acoustics is not small room acoustics, it is very different business, reflections for example are not used in the same way...

Most people had no idea about acoustics anyway, it is easy to see reading audio thread...

In a word : the same system/speakers in a living room compared to a well designed dedicated room will sound totally different...No comparison at all in my three experiments... For sure the synergy between speakers and the gear
matter to begin with starting the process. But at the end you hear not a dac or a pre-amp but the speakers/room which you must learn how to tune...

In this sense Acoustics rule audio...

Most people ignore this because they dont have a room only for sound, nor the time to study and experiment...

They bought the costlier a few panels and this is all done... But in most case it is not done even if they dont know it..

There is no S.Q. relation between BEFORE and AFTER acoustics implementation nevermind the gear system chosen...

In this sense gear dont matter, pick the best you can at the price you can, but at the end this optimization of the chosen system cannot be bought with a few panels... Marketing dont replace acoustics...

Truth is not popular...

@mahgister --

You don’t negate the differentiation of speakers by understanding and properly implementing acoustics. "Properly" with a proviso, certainly insofar it’s not universally accepted what constitutes the right acoustic properties of a listening room in relation to a given pair of speakers, ears and gear. Acoustics aren’t everything, although a vital part of the "equation."

Reviewers can easily drive you down the equipment rabbit hole. I concurr with @mahgister  that paying attention to the room acoustics is of primary importance if you ever want to truly be able to appreciate the differences that various equipments provide. Otherwise your are truly driving blind. Sure, you will be able to enjoy one piece more than the other, but it will never reveal the true potential of any. You start building a house with a solid foundation, same goes with a listening room.

You say it better and shorter than me...

Sure, you will be able to enjoy one piece more than the other, but it will never reveal the true potential of any.

I am a huge fan of music have been for as long as I can remember. I have thousands of song lyrics in my head. Ive been told I have an audio-graphic memory. Meaning I remember what I hear and I can mimic it. It's why i speak other languages like a native. But for the life of me I have never understood what transients are, or decay or holographic 3D effect or even what slam means.  I have a good system that I think plays really well.  But reading here and listening to reviewers online I dont ever hear what they describe. I recently went thru a play list of music a speaker maker Sibelius. He had 10 songs that he uses to rate systems. Each had a specific trait that allowed him to rate the systems capabilities. I went thru each song listening for what he was hearing. <shrug> I guess I kinda heard those things. I didnt get the classical music traits or the wacko organ music but it sounded good to me. Granted I just have a regular room but everything he described as what makes a good system i heard like 40% or maybe I did hear them and didnt recognize them for what they were. All this to say and to ask. How do you know when you have arrived? I like my system. It does well with all genre and I hear things before that i havent heard from music Ive listened to all my life. Should I just shut up, relax and enjoy the music? Or am i on the precipice of miraculous sound and I just dont realize it? I think  this ruins my enjoyment more than anything. Knowing I have good gear but my setup etc my be hamstringing the entire thing. Ahh well

When any system gear at any price is well installed and well acoustically optimized ,then you know it because your critical listenings skills are put to sleep, they are no more necessary.

Not because your system is the best in the world, but because any well acoustically well balance speakers/room experience is highly satisfying in itself.

What irritate us is a system which awake our critical listening attitude because we perceive clearly an unbalance set of factors,..

If we adress them and takes care of the acoustics problems, our critical attitude go to sleep and we listen music not sound defects.

Any system gear/room at any price well done will gave pleasure...

Acoustics rules audio... Sorry for the sellers of gear upgrades...

i could upgrade my 1000 bucks system (not the headphone it is the best in the world ) i dont need and dont want to... I call that the minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold...

My budget is limited and i must listen nearfield with small speakers now. but i felt no limitation, because it is OK acoustically for timbre, holography etc...

my top system choice anyway for music now is my headphone which beat most speakers system save top speakers in top room .