Why do some think "music" (not gear, trading, etc.) is the ultimate end?

If it wasn't for the enjoyment of music, I'd likely not own the stuff I do.

Given that the bulk of it isn't SOTA (the 'purpose-built' computer that links some of it together being the exception), I tinker with my penchant for DIY'ing Walsh speakers, rather than the 'system' as a whole.

In that regard, one could say that's my 'hobby' aspect.
If it wasn't for music, eclectic as my 'tastes' go, I wouldn't bother with any of it.

Listening to music on said system is the primary function of it.  It's been set up to wreak the 'best possible' from it, within the knaves' budget that's driven the collection.  I suspect having the kings' ransom to put towards it would mostly make it appear a tad more acceptable to some elements of the gathered readers here.  But it's 'end function' would remain the same.

I listen to what I enjoy listening to, on equipment that allows for a 'certain level of competance' to do so.

It's quiet @ 'idle'; has no 'quirks' that 'get in the way' of listening to anything I care to listen to, which is what I like to 'do' with it.

The only 'critical listening' performed with it is to see what my diy efforts are yielding.  That's where/when/how it functions as an instrument towards an end.  I can tell when the 'upstream' engineers have been lazy or lax, when compression exists (or not), or the recordings suffer from the existing technology of the time.

But I don't let that get in 'the' or 'my' way of just enjoying listening to the music it reproduces.

There are other concerns in my existence that demand OCD-level attention.  Entertainment is a means of recovery from those activities.

Good thread, BTW.  Not too much negativity so far....;)

Enjoy what you may, J

@asvjerry Thanks for your answer. Something you made me think about is that music is a necessary condition for having audio equipment and skills to use it at all. (This is obvious.) Then again, the need for fuel is a necessary condition of having cooking equipment and skills, too. Recipes, techniques, and the "joy of cooking" are now just assumed as normal parts of the preparation of fuel (nutrition) and someone could say "I love to eat good food but I enjoy preparing it even more" and many wouldn’t bat an eye. What got this thread going for me was the notion that when people say "I love to listen to music but I enjoy the gear and techniques even more" there are more than a few who see the focus away from music as being a sign of something wrong. As I’ve said before in this thread, I’m not saying any particular valuation is right or wrong. I’m more interested in understanding the nearly automatic response (of some) that music is the *only* plausible ultimate value.

The problem of my constant upgrading, is that I may never be able to get back to the point of listening to music PURELY for itself without adulterating it with the scourge of “good sound.”
Very sad.

My eyes are too glazed over to pore over every post here, but it's probably been said many times in this thread that the better the sound quality, the closer we audio nerds get to the music's emotional essence.

The OP’s question is a very valid one.  Continuing my last post, I realize that occupying so much time and effort on improving your system, it’s practically impossible to ignore it while listening to your music.  It inevitably worms it’s way into your consciousness (or unconscious) rendering concentration on the music only partial.
If you can let that not happen, more power to you.
I can’t!