Is it time to just quit?

Hey Elizabeth. Ive been in a similar situation before. When I was low on funds I would reposition my speakers or change the acoustics of the room or move my listening chair closer or farther. Or try cheap tweaks. When I get in a funk I realize I'm critiquing my stereo and trying to be a perfectionist and not listening to the music. When I was 10 I remember the joy music gave me on my first stereo. A $5 AM transistor radio. Now I have built a stereo over the last 46 years that's 10,000 times the cost. Since being out of work from surgery for 5 months I listened to tons of music. So much that I'm a little tired. I just started back to work this week. Maybe its a time to unplug from all music for a week from any sources and start a little fresh with music you haven't heard in a while. I'm also well aware of my moods and when I lose interest in music thats the first sign I'm depressed. For me with the stress of the holidays and with the possibility of SAD it can be a downer. However I always feel great each autumn for about a month and music is beautiful!! Not trying to be nosy in your personal affairs. Your love of music will come back 
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Listen to your car stereo and not your home systefor a while . When you listen back to your home stereo you will go wow and have greater appreciation for it.

Elizabeth. I don't see you posting anything gibberish. Your opinions are much welcomed here. You bring a very well thought out expression that does not carry a heavy tone but adds life to these threads. You had a big influence on me getting the SA-10. When I had got my new amp and preamp then added a 2nd dedicated line all my system was messed up. Like it had a cold. You suggested it was the new wiring causing the harshness. You told me it would settle in and it finally did after a couple of weeks. So your experience is well valued here. Keep posting! Oh I just put some damping material on top of the Marantz but can't tell much difference. It is built solid with no ringing on the chassis. The phono preamp is another story. Lets see you post.

I can verify that the SA-10 that me and Elizabeth have and others is very very good. #%€$ good. With playing a great digital mastered CD it  will reveal the limitations of my TT. Sibilence, surface noise, mistracking. Its seductive and makes me lazy to get up and spin a record, I don't always run the cardas clean sweep record. (It does make a difference in that I have been doing it consistently as of late). I don't think its much of the SA-10s fault if some CDs come out as a 🦃. You can dress up a turkey but it will still be a turkey. If I'm experiencing ice showers its because the water is hard. Back to the records. Some or most have that warm analog glow kinda like how tubes introduce distortion that is ear friendly. I live happily with both. 

I'm in the post holiday blues right now and have lost sone interest in music but it will come back like it akways does

Sometimes I come into my music room and not play anything. Just to enjoy the silence. I think our brain needs a rest sometimes too.

Awesome. Music is the machinery of the universe.