When we become aware of better, we're automatically aware of worse. Differences are magnified by extending boundaries.
Where once I might have been just fine with this or that, being exposed to better lowers tolerance for worse. Food is a great example.
Next week I travel to Las Vegas for the annual CES where eating has become something of a challenge. Most of the high-end food choices in Vegas have been institutionalized—homogenized—to the point of off-putting to me.
I understand that as a vegetarian living in a meat-consuming world I am always a pain in the kitchen's butt. I get that. But it doesn't mean the food quality has to be dumbed down to the point of mere acceptance vs. enjoyment.
The same is true for hi-fi.
Once you get exposed to better, it's hard to go back to worse.
