No preamp in system

Many ways to take this conversation.

1) I have been guilty of the "If it sounds different from what I have now, it must be wrong". Especially when I listen to one system for a very long time. The brain eq’s and compensates to adapt to the current system. Assuming you like it and not wanting to change out of boredom, a new system will sound worse.

2) I have a method to avoid the "break-in paradigm" and keep things in the "first impression" phase. When I get a new component, I will listen the heck out of it, maybe compare to what I currently use, for a day and then put it away for a week or two. If break-in is a concern, I will let it play during that time but not listen to it.

So I have a week or two to let the component physically break in and also mull over what I heard. Maybe think of some other music to try to test it out better.

When I put it in a week or two later, I will see if the sound compares to what I remember and how I like it compared to what I currently use.

As an aside, I will often not listen to my stereo AT ALL for that week. Only listening to natural sounds and live un-amplified music. So my ears aren’t **&(*ed up with this "hi-end crap", haha, and I can go in fresh.

@rvpiano . Hey L.I. buddy, I hope life is treating you well, as well as can be expected. Turning 71 soon, and I have to say, my ears still are quite youthful (thank goodness). I talk to my good friend from N.J. on our cells, I’m in FL., and I easily hear when he gets out of his car, and into his house, or vice versa. The listening space is easily heard by me, and I always shout it out to him. "Your in the house now"...and he is always blown away, because it never happens with him, and he has good ears. Enough about that. Listening passively vs. a preamp (with gain), are very different in what they do. I go back and forth between my Luminous Audio passive unit but use a preamp or two when I am running my Rawson DIY F4, which needs gain. During this time, when I connect another power amp (of so many) with the preamp being in the loop, the sq is great, but little details are lost. With the preamp, there is a "jump" factor that is not there with the passive. I am a dynamics freak, but I am not talking about dynamics here. Another word that describes what I am talking about. Overhead, maybe. Both are enjoyable, but I mainly use my preamps for when I am enjoying the characteristics (or lack of) of the F4. BTW, there are sq differences is passive units, and I love my Luminous. Can you describe what you are and/or not hearing? Always, MrD.

Glad to hear you are getting used to it. Likely getting your preamp will be a real treat when returned. 

Good question you pose, of perspective and time. Until about twenty five years ago, I would say my perception was pretty relative. What sounded good, was based on what I heard. There were systems that sounded better... typically based how many details, how much bass, the width and depth of the soundstage. But I think my perception over time could be influenced by exposure and time.  

Then I went out to hear what real music sounded like. Specifically to develop an absolute measure... yardstick. For over twenty years I steeped myself in live acoustic music specifically develop an absolute measure against which to judge my system and system choices. 

I will say that my perception will vary a little... but during that time I also assembled my system to sound like the real thing... so that the absolute is reinforced. So, while I am sure my perception of "good sounding" varies a little... probably not a lot.

I’m pretty sure lots of folks simply wonder around in solution space just comparing one system versus another and in that case lots of drift is likely... I think. 

Just a stab at it.