How you remeber hearing the music

I recently played an album that I haven't heard for a long time. I've been upgrading for a while now so things have changed sonically on a huge scale. I love the way that Naim makes the music sound 'live' and 'in your room' which is why I've invested so much in the brand. I was amazed at how they manage this because through my work (I spend a good deal of time in recording studios and the play back is never as three dimensional), but listening to a favourite album from my 'youth' (Love Gun - by Kiss) I was shocked to hear how different the track 'Hooligan' sounded to previous systems and through my up grade path. I have wondered with the black magic of Naim how true is was to the intended original studio recording; was I hearing it properly for the first time or has my system presented it a way that it seemed fit? Anyone had similar experiences?