Music first or sound first?

For me sound was the way i like my music to be heard...

Acoustics basic and good synergetical choice of gear save me from the upgrades race...

I am totally happy because i learned how to be creative and i appreciate my system which has no relative evident defect and work at his peak potential...

Upgrade is always possible but some have a budget...😁

Anyway i dont feel my system as a stopgap at all , and i listen hundred of new music albums each month i forgot the sound which is very good anyway...

my 1000 bucks system can only be upgrade with 15,000 bucks changing my actual headphone and actual speakers with a better dac... But so good it is now i dont feel frustrated at all as i was before learning acoustics basic... I can die with what i had created myself now...

Then acoustic paradise at low cost is possible ...

Gave me 15,000 and for sure i will improve it all but music take all the place when the system /room is BALANCED between all acoustics parameters.. ...

To improve all these parameters in the same balanced ratio  will cost 15,000. But the secret you must understand is this one :  any system at any price is enjoyable as such if all acoustics parameters at play are BALANCED with one another , not one lacking or in excess...

Now we must learn how to recognise and use these acoustics parameters related to the system/room/ears ...This is why acoustics science matter ... The price tags of system will not change acoustic principles and concepts nor my journey ...

I use this simple method/process to balance the two (music/SQ).

DeKay

Well it’s the qualifier “in listening to their rigs“ that changes my answer. With that it is always the sound over the music.

There are many ways, for me, to enjoy music. But when it comes to my rig, I want it to sound like nothing else, as if it’s an experience. Nothing is better (with my audiophile hat on) than playing music on my system to someone who’s not familiar with what these system can do and getting them, inevitably, to go: OH WOW, what the heck is this?!

@patrickdowns I am OK with looking at expensive gear now. I used to feel jealous or envious because I knew I could never afford it (anything over a $1000) but now I enjoy it like I read car magazines. Technology will trickle down and I will be able to enjoy some aspects of expensive gear and so it's mostly fun to read and watch reviews. I am fairly certain I wouldn't enjoy music more if I had more $$$ to spend on gear, or at least not in any way proportional to the cost. 

It's definitely sound first for me. Good sound always makes a song more enjoyable and I'm not afraid to use external gear to help me shape a song to the way that I want it to sound.