Does it have to sound good for you to like it?

With over 100 posts it’s time I give my perspective. To answer your question(OP) NO, but many factors can dispute this since a plethora of recorded music has both great content and SQ. For many that own physical media the SQ of a recording should have equal importance since were using more of our time/money/effort and physical space as opposed to those that mainly stream(sample) music. As previously stated if one has a very wide taste in music genres the SQ issue is not as significant. Being selective regarding a recordings SQ does not diminish the admiration one has for the music.

@stuartk , yes, and yes. I would say that this is to be expected. I would also say that I think the key to having the fullest appreciation of the music is to develop the ability to turn off the need to constantly scrutinize the sound. While, as I wrote earlier, the two can live side by side, I think that one is being unrealistic to think that when listening to music we can appreciate ALL that the music is offering if we are also scrutinizing the sound and allowing ourselves to be bothered by what are ultimately relatively minor imperfections in the sound relative to what quality of sound that is really necessary to fully appreciate the music.

Audio as a hobby is great fun, but as a previous poster pointed out about his “listening club buddies”, it is possible to be an avid music lover with a very modest system and still get deeper into the music than someone with a very expensive system.

it is possible to be an avid music lover with a very modest system and still get deeper into the music than someone with a very expensive system.

Sure that’s possible, but I’d argue that same avid music lover could get even deeper into the music and appreciate it even more with a better system.  I can appreciate driving a Mazda Miata, but I can appreciate driving a lot more in a Porsche 911.

@frogman 

While, as I wrote earlier, the two can live side by side, I think that one is being unrealistic to think that when listening to music we can appreciate ALL that the music is offering if we are also scrutinizing the sound and allowing ourselves to be bothered by what are ultimately relatively minor imperfections in the sound relative to what quality of sound that is really necessary to fully appreciate the music.

This is consistent with my experience as well. 

@soix

Sure that’s possible, but I’d argue that same avid music lover could get even deeper into the music and appreciate it even more with a better system. I can appreciate driving a Mazda Miata, but I can appreciate driving a lot more in a Porsche 911.

Maybe. Perhaps I don’t want to believe this is true because I know I can’t afford to chase better and better sound. Or maybe "appreciation" is more dependent upon the capacity of the listener to tune into the music (and less dependent upon sonics) than your statement suggests. Maybe it’s simply too variable to make any broad assertions.

Regarding your driving example, I wouldn’t know how to go about comparing the respective attributes of a Porsche vs a Miata. Such fine points woulds be wasted on me. I’ve eaten in restaurants with folks who’ve eaten the same food and derived far less enjoyment than I have. One concluded I was a "super-taster" (a phrase I’d never encountered). My assessment was that their palates simply weren’t as developed.