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Evaluate your own system and ask yourself these questions the next time you listen.

These are the basic elements of music from Western Michigan University

Listen carefully for these aspects in the music you hear, and—you will attain a heightened understanding that will open your ears, mind and soul to the deeper levels of musical thought and appreciation.

Rhythm: 

Dynamics: 

Melody: 

Harmony:

Tone 

Color: 

Texture:

Form:

The technical analytical engineering side of it.

Does each song feel like an event? Meaning, its own experience?

What does the room or environment feel like - meaning how is the painting framed? 

Is there tangible or emotional drama in the music?

Is there body to the entire work as a whole? Is there literal palpable tension and cohesiveness in the musical palette? 

It is spooky three dimensional, well beyond the speakers and the room, and does that change with each recording? 

Each instrument or sound should have its own space and texture, Are there leading edges on the notes and instruments? 

Is there space and proper decay? 

Do you feel like you are "getting the intended message" the musicians are sending?

Are you noticing things, details, effects, you’ve never noticed before each time you listen? 

Can you experience all of this at moderate or low listening levels? 

The bottom line:

Are you enjoying yourself? 

Does it elicit emotions? 

Do you want to hear it or experience it again, and again? 

Are you emotionally invested and “into” it or could you take it or leave it? 

Are you tapping your foot or hand or keeping time in some other way? 

Do you find yourself distracted when listening thinking of other things you want or should be doing? 

Do certain songs and performances move you emotionally or bring you to tears? 

Depending on your answers to these questions your system could be open to substation improvement. Not with new components, but simply tuning it as and getting all of the players playing in time, on the same sheet of music.