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

"Live music" in which venue, from which seat, through whose ears???

@viridian 

Not to imply that is not as valid a choice as any, just dont understand it.

I don't either, unless it involves replicating what one hears night after night, in a particular venue from a particular group of musicians. 

@soix 

 I’ve built my system and it has evolved so it just sounds “right” to me, which may have little to do with if it sounds that way to someone else.  I think the goal of achieving “live” sound is probably a misnomer and may more aptly be described as a desire for everything just to sound “right” however each individual perceives that. 

+1 

@frogman 

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.

You are a musician, no?  I've often wondered whether those of us who play music aren't inherently more inclined to focus on upon music more than sonics. 

@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.