What do you choose first SOUND or MUSIC?

genesis has the right slant on priorities. unless you have become, or want to become and expert on the interpertation of an artist or a piece of music don't feel the need the do other than to listen to music that sounds good to you. don't let the music critics or the audio police intimidate you. if you feel you friends might judge you, you can always have on hand a selection that will meet their approval and you can hide the rest til they leave!

I have noticed that as my audio system has improved, certain music that used to sound great on my "lesser system" seems to be lacking as upgrades are made. As an audiophile (what ever that means!) I feel that sonic quality AND music should be mutually inclusive (why bother to listen to music that sounds not much different on a $199.99 "Aardvark" mini-system than on a $50,000.00 "Primo-Gonzo" rig? On the other hand, do you REALLY want to listen exclusively to nothing but Audiophile test recordings on your big rig?) An advantage of CD's is that you may be able to find a better quality of pressing than on vinyl ( has ANYONE EVER found a decent pressing of Jethro Tull's "Too old to Rock & Roll..." on vinyl? If you like Tull find a copy of "Warchild" on MFSL Gold Utradisc. Happy Tunes!

I have heard some very well recorded "audiophile" recordings of what is just useless noise. Some of it was funny for awhile because the music was just so awful and my wife or friends would make fun of me for buying it.
Music comes first. Listen to what you like. If your favorite music does not sound good on your system, then maybe you have gone "too far".
Occaisionally, you will find some new music you like because you have read about it in audiophile publications.
Some of the most knowledgable people that I have met who really know alot about music itself and who are avid music collectors, have very average sound systems. Some musicians I have met have average sound systems. What does that tell you?

If you choose sound first, your priorities are backwards.

Equipment serves the music!!!
A good system can serve better if properly used.
Choose good performance first then try to show it with better equipments, but it can't make performance than it really is.
The opposite won't work.
Why don't you buy a Steinway piano and play for yourself, insteady you spend big $$ on Hi-Fi.
The answer is very clear!
The reason is that not everybody can give good performance on a real piano(100% Hi-Fi).
Having a good Hi-Fi without good music is like to have a Steinway and you can't play.
If you can play like Horowitz, Steinway will give you a custom made grand and beg you to play.

Almost everybody chooses music first!
Don't spend big bucks to check your hearing but enjoy the music.

Good liestening to everybody!