What matters most for an enjoyable home listen?

For both music and movies the same would hold true. Also, the first two are sometimes the most difficult to come by:

1. No distractions (someone interrupting, or talking over the performance, or standing in front of me).
2. A minimal amount of street noise (life in NYC).
3. Something good to eat or drink.
4. Something that I am interested in viewing or listening to.
5. Lastly, it needs to be a good performance (artistry) and sound/look good (system). It doesn't have to be perfect, but excellence is nice to have.

Regards, Rich

The glass of beer/wine is a good add for me as well!

My wife doesn't like loud music anyway, and I do not generally want distractions while listening, so I'd pass on the sweetie thing in general while listening.

Live concerts/performances, different story...count the sweetie in!

There is a time and place for everything after all.....

A good performance that has been well recorded should come through any system as good, the better the system the better the sound.

Uru975,

I agree.

One thing I'm hoping to find out here is whether people really think the digital/analog issue is really that important.

To me it is not. If you have a good performance that is well recorded on a good system, I am pretty much where I want to be. Digital or analog is not nearly as important as these other things.

the right state of mind....being relaxed and not distracted as others have said...
Larry