How many great CDs do you have?

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.

MrT, you certainly are the MF in this thread.

None, ripped them all to digital files and play through a DAC. I believe that sounds much better than any transport I have ever heard/owned for sure.

If I really want to listen critically, which I do a lot, I listen to vinyl. No contest in sound quality.