Music first or sound first?

I’ll go first. 
 

Speaking for myself, I invested in my system because I’ve always loved music. I think there are many people in the world who are indifferent to music. There are those of us, however, whose lives have a soundtrack to them. We associate music with time and place. Our lives develop a soundtrack that mirrors our feelings and journey. It’s deeply personal, emotive and anchored in our identity. 
 

That’s where I started. 
 

I think we become sort of obsessed with “sound” when we realize all these small variables that can make that music even more emotional, poignant, and meaningful. Admittedly, it becomes a bit of a razor’s edge when we start fixating on the sound and equipment. We can lose touch with the unadulterated enjoyment of what we purportedly wanted to enjoy in the first place. 
 

Over the last few years, I’ve unfortunately found myself guilty of this. 
 

In the end, the equipment should just be a means to an end: a soulful enjoyment of art. Music is art. 
 

I don't separate 'em. Can't hear music without sound, so both are of equal importance to me these days. Of course when I was a lot younger and listening to music on handheld transistor radios back in the 60's, that was not the case! 🤣

Sound while upgrading and music in the years between. although that isn’t entirely correct because when I’m listening to the sound during upgrade, I’m also making sure the music is coming through since that is the point. Much of musicality is Rhythm and pace and mid range bloom as well as detail and tonal balance..

in my experience our love of the music pushes us to want better sound. then as we pursue music, and our tastes expand, the improving performance of our systems enables us to enjoy a wider and wider musical horizon.

so the better sound opens up musical opportunities, and that process is never ending.

this was my path. when i heard my 60’s and 70’s rock sound (graduated H.S in 1969) better as a budding audiophile in 1994, i started reading about jazz and classical recordings, which i knew nothing about. these were the most accessible versions of jazz and classical. but on my system they sounded good. it was something new to me. and as i improved the sound in my system, i ventured wider and wider with new music.

15 years later i’m into avant-garde jazz and 20th Century classical. this was made possible by improving the performance of my system. now 30 years after becoming a serious audiophile i listen to 70% classical, 20% jazz, and 10% pop/rock.

music and sound are an enabling partnership.

sure; i can enjoy ’demo’ sounds for short periods, where the focus is on sonic parlor tricks. my system is capable of doing very large scale music, and has really no practical limitations. it’s 3db down at 7hz and 6db down at 3hz.

but my system and it’s performance serves the music, and my enjoyment of it. as my system has improved i'm getting more and more immersion in the music.