To piggyback on what decal said- Don't be this guy Parsons is talking about:
Disclaimer: We have
all been that guy. Listen critically when you need to- evaluating speakers or speaker placement for example-- but not every minute of evey record.
Years ago, Frank Van Alstine published a newsletter in which he offered this useful perspective for how to tell of your (or someone else's) system is 'good enough': "When you go there, is the audio system usually on, or usually off? If it is usually on, it is probably good enough; if it is usually off, it probably isn't."
On a practical level: As I heard Klaus from Odyssey say at a show, the transducers in a system- speakers or headphones, phono cart if spinning vinyl- contribute 90% of what we perceive as the 'signature' of a sound system. Get the speakers and their room placement and compatibility right and you are halfway there. Make sure your amplification isn't giving its all to deliver the listening level you want into your speakers, in your room. Make sure your phono cart and tonearm work well together; I have seen even megabuck systems being demo'd at shows get this horribly wrong, with woofers flopping back and forth like a freshly boated fish from excess subsonics due to poor arm/cart compatibility. A well matched modestly priced system will outperform a poorly matched 'deep-end' system. Likewise, speakers that are well suited to your room will provide more enjoyment than 'better' speaks that aren't. Lastly, higher price does NOT guarantee better sound.
