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

@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.

**** But, I love these guys, and the way they love music; and, most of them know their music, to the nines!  I learn so much from them and get inspired hearing music I never would have known about without them.  I can then return home and listen at my level of appreciation. ****

…..and THAT is the point.  Good on you, audiodidact!

@rvpiano , I haven’t suggested otherwise.  I’m sure it will be brought up again.  As I also said, I hope you can find some resolution.  Cheers.  

Exactly! We “audiophiles” (frankly, I hate the term) need to stop getting so defensive at the suggestion that very expensive audio equipment and the obsession with all its trappings are necessary for the appreciation of the music. It is not. It sure as hell is a lot of fun to have a great sounding system and play with its setup, but whether we want to admit it or not the obsessive pursuit of highest end sound can also be a major distraction from focusing on the music and all of its nuances and riches. I believe that is all that Parsons meant with his comment. No need to get bent out of shape over it.

As has been pointed out, this topic has been beaten to death many times and not just on this forum. On this forum, the OP has asked what is essentially the same question many times over the years; in a variety of different ways and approached from different angles. Not to personalize things, but he seems conflicted in the matter and I hope he finds resolution at some point as this seems to get in the way of his enjoyment.

Personally, I make absolutely zero judgement of hobbyists who value sound quality more than the music, or that are kept from enjoyment of a great performance because the recorded sound is not up to (their) par. To each their own! Doesn’t bother me one wit and God knows, I Iike my ear candy as much as anyone. However, FOR ME, the idea that the pursuit of great (subjective) sound quality as the end-all is worthy of anywhere near the level of concern or attention as does the appreciation of the vast artistic riches found in a great performance of great music strikes me as odd. FOR ME and others audio is a hobby while music is much more than that.

So, those who don’t share this view should simply be confident in their approach to this hobby and instead of feeling defensive allow others their point of view and passion for the music as the end-all.  I would suggest that the two approaches can live side by side and that the key is to find the right balance of the two.

No. Great recorded sound is the icing on the cake. I still love cake; icing or not.