I'd like to add that it was "really" good to get feedback from other members.
I've been listening and tuning my system in almost pure isolation for more years than not (I suppose it's just the nature of this sport).
With this in mind, I think that it is also safe to say that my system or my "sound" had become a product of my own environment. I became too comfortable hearing this particular sound and to some extent lost the ability to self direct or inspire myself beyond that comfort zone. Living in San Francisco or any apartment or house with shared walls can have a major impact on your system and your listening preferences. Over the years I became very accustomed to tuning the lower ranges of my system to be what somewhat non-offensive to both my SO and my neighbors. This also allowed me to kind of develop a tunnel vision, tuning towards bass articulation and perhaps losing sight of the emotion that the lower octaves can bring to music. I can't even tell you how many years I've been going down this particular path.
So, sure enough, the first time I play my system for other people their general response is that the sound is "lean" and for some presenting too much detail or granularity, perhaps too polite. Through the simple process of just hearing people describe what they were hearing (more importantly what they weren't hearing) or how the system took them out of their own comfort zone, I gained an enormous amount of insight. Please keep in mind I'm not saying that I shouldn't or don't trust my own ears, but I am saying that I probably mentally imposed a number of limitations on my system due to my pursuit of trying satisfy only one particular aspect of the sound. When it came to bass it was largely a subtractive affair in search of "ultimate integration" and articulation.
Well, after yesterday the gains are up and I'm learning a lot about how much the room can take (as well as my SO and the neighbors). The music is explosive holographic and musical, the systems detail and speed is not lost but I'm learning a great deal about the character and limitations of the room. It should also be noted that Brian accidentally left behind one of the the GR servos for my perusal (thanks Brian!)
Anyway I'll stop with the rant, but I cannot overstate how important it was to get input from others. Thanks again everyone!
