I doubt it is based on sensitivity; we can all see and hear a less than stellar looking or sounding recording.
Rather, it is a choice by the listener/viewer as to whether the equipment or music is more important. I come down in favor of the music. Others choose differently.
To me, the most telling part of your story is you remained driven to listen to music. 
Good one Elk. As a huge fan of Akira Kurosawa, IMHO one of the greatest directors of the 20th century, I’ll watch his early black and white films in standard definition any day and feast in the sheer beauty of what he accomplished. They’re gorgeous to me, every frame a consummate work of art. Sure his epic Ran was his finest work technically by far and eye candy, but I keep going back to Seven Samurai, Rashomon, so many others and could see those on an old black and white tube set and still marvel at them. Same with music reproduction … great artistry transcends format and technical sophisitication.
Yes they do… true story… I had some friends staying… put on the DVD “Some Like It Hot” considered one of the best comedic movies of all time. Both Chris and Laurie balked at… “not even in color!” … morons.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
i get it, when i’m in tech and tweaking mode, but music always wins for me.
as i’ve suggested elsewhere, have a second set of amps / speakers chosen for enjoyability rather than mega resolving ability. feed em from the same sources even, and switch to them when the music source is not a great recording. possible to do without pulling cables and means more music gets played, but leaves the mega rig still available for when the music being played warrants it. works a treat if you are bothered by poor recordings of great music
The Third Man being another example of such a film
We are saying the same thing, just using different words. Most people could care less about high resolution music. By “sensitivity”, I’m referring to that which motivates someone to care or not. I’m not referring to the physical act of experiencing the senses.
But getting back on track… have your ever gone backwards? … been happy with lesser equipment?
Peace
Bruce in Philly
Went from a great Wadia 861b CD player and a Gamut D200 Mk3 amp system down to an Ayre CX-7e CD player and AX-7e Integrated system. I enjoyed the Ayre equipment very much! May be because, as previously mentioned, I kept my Spendor S9 speakers.
Thankfully, no.
My favourite film of 2019, and of Dr Mark Kermode, the UK’s leading critic (the only one people listen to) was film called “Bait”. It was filmed with black and white 16mm film using a hand-cranked camera and the sound was added afterwards.
The previous year we had Roma from Alberto Cuaron, which was brilliant.
Certain films benefit from been shot on analogue film, in particular Son of Saul, probably the best film of the last 10 years, if not ever, and Phantom Thread. Both shot on 35mm Kodak.
I don’t enjoy going backwards. I have my main system in the media room and a much lesser setup in the office.
I just don’t enjoy listening in the office.
What I’ve come to enjoy is picking out and being delighted by interesting sounds. Spacial cues is important and I can’t get that from the office setup.
I’m probably in the camp of enjoying the sound of musical things as opposed to the contents and meaning of the music.
And my main system allows me to enjoy that in additional dimensions.
In my experience, with less expensive systems you have lower expectations, and lower resolution, which at times can equate to a more enjoyable musical experience, especially with less than ideal recordings.
I can listen to anything on my TDK bluetooth speaker, and I always enjoy the music, and have never once nit picked the sound, unlike with my big rig.
BTW, this bluetooth speaker sounds better than most, especially considering the price.
I enjoy Radio 1190 (college radio) on AM in the car. Great selection of music and I always hear something new, but about as lofi as you can get. So there you go.
I kinda helped get that sucka off the ground in the 1990s! Cool to hear somebody else whom appreciates that underground college radio station.
I have a few different headphones that get used for different purposes, and I leave Alexa on for the dog, or for a friend’s radio show out of convenience. Always nice to keep simplicity and variety in the mix, to appreciate a little hifi fast. Good for the soul.
I sold my AVR today, and listed my surround/center speakers for sale. Going back to strictly 2-channel. The AVR system wasn’t getting any use. I barely listen to speakers now. Mostly headphone sessions.
No wonder why you like your main system,just looked and noticed that you have Ulfberhts with full PS Audio stack ! Didn´t know that anyone here owned them… Amazing sound I am sure and what comes to going backwards, I did that two years ago by getting Double Impacts,the cheapest speakers I have ever owned. And the best sounding ones too 
Back in ‘87 I bought a Thorens turntable with upgraded shell wires, AQ sorbothane mat, and a Grado 8MZ. I cleaned all of my records on a VPI machine and used Last preservative. This was vinyl heaven for me. About 10 years ago when I downsized our house, I gave the Thorens to my son, sold the VPI cleaner, and sold off or gave away nearly all my records. Now I have about 25 records, which I just wipe off when dusty, and a Pro-ject debut carbon with Ortofon red that came with it. Not vinyl heaven, but I’m happy with the downgrade.
Modification of my previous reply:
In April, I ordered a Decware SE84UFO tube power amp.
It arrived yesterday and I’ve been playing it’s little two watts thru my main system just for comparison to my Pass Labs amp which costs 6 times the price.
I guess I can say it’s “lesser stuff”. But wow does it sound great and I’ll be very happy with it in my upstairs system. It certainly doesn’t match the Pass in any respect, but it’s a glorious sounding little thing.
So yes, I’m happy.
