When I listen to my system.......

Claiming a recording IS real music is analogous to saying a photograph of my dog IS my dog (without the fur :-). Really not the same thing at all.

No not at all. It comes down to your definition of music and I choose to agree with Wikipedia’s. I don’t know who’s definition you are using.

From Wikipedia:

Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise expressive content.

Music may be performed using a wide variety of musical instruments, including the human voice. It can also be composed, sequenced, or otherwise produced to be indirectly played mechanically or electronically, such as via a music box, barrel organ, or digital audio workstation software on a computer.

There is nothing to say that the sequence of sounds must be produced "on the fly" and this last paragraph would include recorded music which is indirectly played.

"None of us are listening to music on our systems". Keep telling yourself that. I am done with this ridiculous commentary of yours, however, I still wish you my best. MrD.

Hopefully last response to this rabbit hole

Once music is recorded/reproduced you leave the world of music and enter the world of music reproduction, which is why we gather in this forum to discuss gear, not performers/performances (unless it is to clarify a point regarding gear).

This is patently false given the topic named Music with over 10,000 threads in it on this forum.  Without having perused them I feel safe in assuming many folks here have gathered to discuss music likely outside the context of their gear.

I like the direct emotional link to the music. One that draws me in and makes me close my eyes and sway. Making most recordings sound great. So, that is the kind of system I put together… it excels balance between all the aspects… detail, bass, tonal balance, imaging, rhythm and pace… etc

@ghdprentice, exactly my sentiments.  My system makes everything sound good.  Shitty recordings sound decent, excellent recordings sound excellent.  This works very well for me because despite the money that I have invested, paradoxically I listen now to a lot of bootlegs from the ‘70’s, which sometimes are good and sometimes not so good.  But my system has just the right balance for me.  I am happy.  And I’d like to put in a plug for the Shunyata Everest, my last acquisition that finished off that sound and depth of stage that I have been looking for.

If it doesn't make my toes tap it is no good to me.  In other words if I don't like the song it doesn't matter how good it sounds I still won't like it.  However when I listen to the stuff I enjoy I want all the musical nuance I can find from my system.