So where do you fall in the spectrum.? Gear or Music?

Music.

Gear is merely the means to that end....and ought to be, always.

What one spends and adapts ones' environs in the pursuit of the goal is the prerogative of the listener(s).  'Low-ball', 'Hi-end', and all that exists in the midst is valid even if only to the owner of same.

'Owner' is happy until not, for whatever reason or rationale....

The 'ladder' doesn't seem to lack rungs to ascend, so one can climb until the efforts tires, the view is sufficient, the means of pursuit wane, or one is deaf and/or deceased....

There Are others....pick one, or make it up.  I have, and you ought to have one just in case. *L* ;)

I tire of being a 'bot....maybe I should be the mayor.....*evil G*

Great gear won't fix crappy music, but you can listen to great music on crappy  gear and it's still great music. If one thinks the gear has any importance other than relaying the music to your earballs, I can only assume you can sit and fondle your fuses and lovingly gaze at a dead sound system which without music is a pile of paperweights. Music is what matters, period.

This past week I completed a Raspberry Pi 3 based streamer project that I started 2-3 years ago. I built up 2 streamers, one with a I2S DAC hat and the other without. So, one has analog outputs and the other is just the USB output that is built into a Raspberry Pi. Anyway, I never got Moode OS running to my satisfaction. Last week I installed Volumio 3 on both and I could not be more happy with the results.

I also just cleaned out the orphaned audio closet and sold a crap-load of stuff. In there I found a pair of the Radio Shack Presidian speakers that made a minor stir back about 10-15 years ago. They had an MSRP of $39 and the final closeout price was $14 per pair!.

Anyway, at this moment I'm listening to a sub-$100 Raspberry Pi streamer, the $39 Presidian speakers through an Audio Refinement Complete integrated amp that I purchased used for a bargain price.

All told this system is under $500 and I'm sitting here thinking "Wow! Radio Paradise in FLAC is sounding great in my office".

Point being...... I'm a music guy.

Any relatively well designed gear---------------------> my room specifically controlled soundfield----------------> me and music

All arrows pointed in the same direction because chosing the gear or chosing music cannot be valid  alternatives save in audio thread schizophrenia...Or ignoring acoustic....