I grew up on live music, Dad played guitar in bars, Mom sang. We always had some crappy record player, and a small assortment of mostly country records, but it wasn't anything I really thought about. We lived halfway between Lost and Way-The-Hell-Out-There, Ks. Radio was mostly country and western, circa 1965-68. Got an AM transistor radio in '72 when I was 10, and heard what more modern music was about, that was a good time for it. Got FM when I was 14. But I never really heard a good stereo until '77. Walking through a mall, I heard a piano. It seemed to be be coming from the stereo store nearby, but I saw no piano. I went in, and found out about Magnapans, and stereo separates. To say I was impressed would be understating the case somewhat. That was my introduction to good sound reproduction, and the gear that made it happen. I'm not quite at that level, but I don't care. True enjoyment simply requires realistic expectations.
And accepting the fact that with 4 cats, Maggies simply are NOT realistic!! Dammit....