Anyone enjoy their amp's sound more than music?

More than music? No, never. I do enjoy my amp's "sound" despite the minor colorations that I can hear. I can listen past them and still enjoy it's generally truthful and musical character. I would enjoy it more though if the colorations were completely absent.

I went to a concert last weekend and heard Beethoven’s Eroica symphony. I played the Von Karajan version on my turntable and the sound was much more exciting. That may have been because I had a box seat at the concert and my amp can play the music louder. It makes me wonder how the concert would have compared if I had a front row seat.

Bob

How do you separate the two? You can't have one without the other unless your using the amp for other purposes in which case your question is irrelevant. In the context of comparison, your question makes sense. 'I love this amp so much more than that other one that I just want to hear it perform'. But in what way? You can't help still enjoying the music that goes with it. It's been that way for me since the beginning and I would dare wager it's the same for just about everyone here whether about amps or just tweaks.

And in the context of Bob's reply, nothing changes. If God declared 'It's music or gear', what fool would choose the gear?

It's the total experience for me but the music still wins out. I love watching the LP spin on the TT under low light while the music plays; it warms my heart. And of course a glass of red wine or scotch in my hand. Pure Joy.

Chuck