There is no question to the fact that, cost considerations aside, the enjoyment of high-fidelity music listening takes into consideration all the things you speak of, Mr. P. Whether those pertain to realism, tonal quality, frequency response, presentation or "pace" (nice term, that), the enjoyment of these things is an acquired skill that comes from careful listening to actual sources and using that template to compare the sounds emanating from our speakers and to our brains. The canny audiophile is aware of the nuances of sound that not only distinguish an oboe from an english horn, say, but also playback of an instrument that is presented adequately and that which is presented in startlingly realism. To most folks, who have been conditioned by mediocre equipment and only casual acquaintance with instruments, the search for good sound is an inconsequential one; yet, to the audiophile, the search is, sometimes, never ending.

To us, knowing the difference between what is "great" and what is "phenomenal" inspires us to look for solutions that drive us to spend much time and resources--sometimes even as we know that what we has satisfied us still. Having lived with and loved music all my life, I have a fairly keen sense of what sounds right and what doesn't. I can articulate fairly well why one CD player's performance is only adequate and why another's sounds much, much better (I think). More importantly, I can tell what I like, and while I may not have the vocabulary or even the knowledge many here have, that knowledge has served me well so far.

Like many around here, however, I am not very pecuniarily able to justify spending much on certain things. I must look for bargains here and there, and look for ways to find the sound I love without much extravagance. I like the hunt, for I have learned that while I can easily spend a small fortune on very beautifully performing gear, I can spend a fraction of the amount on gear that is still pleasing. I have no doubt that some will snub my purchases, but so far I like what I hear and that is good enough. Later, as resources avail themselves or as my ears become tired, adjustments will be made. But that is later....

I will still call upon you and everyone else here to help me along the way. I am not so smug to think that I know as much as you, and I respect your counsel very highly. In this forum, I have found like-minded lovers of music, who drink as I drink, the sounds coming from their stereos and gear like rare wine. I hope that I have not presented myself as anything but such a person, and when I bid you to give me your counsel I will await your reply with eager and avid anticipation.