How many great CDs do you have?

About 10% are "reference".Burmester,Mapleshade,Mercury and the Purist Audio demo CDs.Though there are a few which span the gap-Tom Waits:Mule Variations.If "Take it with me when I go" doesn't stir an emotion or two,something is wrong.

Thanks guys for your well thought out responses. As we all chase the quest for that bit of magic in our listening rooms, I wondered does the minuscule number of great cds/lps owned make us long for better gear, or is it the great gear that makes us want more great music, period?

Both statements are true.

Frankly I'd much rather "...chase the quest..." of fine music. I've always been more pressed to find involving music, music that commands attention. Audio has always been, although at times it has not seemed so (as in the past 4 years or so), of secondary interest. An interest which pales quickly, as it presently has. I actually find that concerns over audio reproduction distracts from the listening (to the content of the music/performance) experience as much as anything.

FWIW neither great recordings, nor great audio systems, float my boat. Good recordings heard over good audio systems of great music does though...........I'm probably in the wrong forum:-)

i'll take a master tape any time. it doesn't matter what the stereo system sounds like at that point. i think the sound quality of the recording is paramount. all else is secondary.