Perhaps we should stick with midfi...

Did you research and try out all these different components to see if they would work together or just haphazardly buy them because of something you read or heard?Equipment has to work in harmony to produce pleasing results.I know it's a trite cliche but,sometimes less is more.

System matching is work and trial and error. It takes time. Maybe this is part of the reason? Almarg is also correct about the nature of a revealing system making poor recordings sound worse.

I also think expectations play a huge role. You don't expect too much from your $1000 system and thus can simply rest in the music. The $60,000 sysem IS ATTACHED TO SIGNIFICANT $$ and has mental stuff tied to it. Hard to just enjoy when perfection is expected. One gets all tied up with performance perfection and enjoyment is lost.

Maybe I'm wroing, but I smell troll...

-RW-

Could be, but we have seen this type of question/comment before and it is interesting and a place some themselves.

Meant to say " a place some find themselves"