I find myself changing direction, in a way.......

Hey, I get it. One of the reasons I go/went to live shows was to "feed" of the artists. And when the artists' "feed" off the audience, we get a better experience. My current setup is two channel only but it seems nice to have the option.

Yeah I agree the visuals can add a lot, and I too find myself watching and thoroughly enjoying YT videos despite the lower sound quality.  Sometimes I’m in the mood for one and sometimes the other.  Maybe consider putting a TV in your main listening room and just cover it with a blanket when listening to two channel if you think it could be a meaningfully better experience than your bedroom system.  Anyway, I hear where you’re coming from. 

 I run an optical line straight from the TV PCM setting directly to my DAC. Easy sounds great. I just hate all the commercials that interupt the whole story line.

I do the YouTube concerts once in a while with excellent results due to the fact I hooked up the Schitt Loki Max equalizer between the TV and main system. And Blu-ray disks concerts get the same treatment. I usually get the room dark, sit further back in the listening room and crank it to a higher volume than usual. The result is the closest I can get to being at a concert. However I never bother doing it for any kind of music videos that are not live concerts.

@mrdecibel 

If you check my system you will see the TV between the speakers but way behind them and covered with a wool rug while not in use. I can honestly say it does not effect the sound quality of the system at all. Same with the two small windows right behind the speakers. Either covered or not, my acoustic treatments and equipment placement make it so I cannot tell a difference in sound. It will take some adjustments but the usual audiophile rule that placing a TV in a listening room is a big no-no turned out to be nonsense in my case.

YouTube just one of many new technologies killing off traditional “high end audio”.  How about those AI generated music videos for old material?  Not to mention entire  new albums AI generated based on past content? Or new mixes with additional AI generated elements? Yowza!

Many people find watching performances and performers enjoyable. Some of these folks are performers themselves. 

I enjoy the music. I find watching distracting... even at the symphony.  Typically I close my eyes to allow my mind to be engulfed. I am taken by the music... without regards to the instruments. Although, the natural sound of the instruments is really great. However, I remember first hearing The Art of Noise and realizing music does not require musical instruments. Like the drummers in cities banging on plastic bucket... they can produce some great compelling music. 

I have some friends that play instruments and clearly are swayed by technical skills. I remember one of the Al Di Meola albums my friend (s) loved... to me it was only a guy exhibiting how many notes he could pump out... without creating any actual music. I have never been able to listen for more than a couple minutes... something Gypsy. 

There is no right way. But this is how I appreciate music. So, I own no music videos , concerts and am not drawn to YouTube. But that’s just me. 

I used to love watching concert videos on DVD's, and later on YouTube; that's gotten to be just too much of a rabbit hole so I rarely watch a live performance vid; I do listen to YouTube for audio without visuals as well. So much stuff is available, and the music is more important for me than having the ultimate sound quality. 

If the concert is encoded in Atmos, it sounds awesome in my HT room, you are part of the show, sound everywhere. But if it's not in multi-ch it sounds like poo. 

Have gone down the video/live shows in the HT room, but my 2ch setup sounds best for music. 

Have a small tv and soundbar in the bedroom. It sounds ok, but there is no imaging, very small soundstage. 

I appreciate the friendly comments. My point is this....I enjoy watching...the musicianship. I was watching a Danny Gatton (RIP) concert, and watching him play, amazes me. He also allows other band members to take the lead, such as Bill Holloman, on sax and keyboard. What an awesome sax player. Most listeners are interested in the "sound" of the instruments", but the reality is, these instruments do not play themselves. I do believe that my early years as a vocalist in bands and choruses have given me this appreciation for the listening perspective I have. As I have stated, I might consider adding a large screen to my main listening room, as I once did, as "watching" has become as important to me as the listening. Closing my eyes during listening is a given, as others have stated, but watching along with listening seems to engage me more, at this time in my life (71). Thank you to all who have responded. My best, MrD.

@mrdecibel 

Last night I watched a live Hellecasters video on YouTube, followed by a live Joan Armatrading video (both recorded in Germany, as it happens). I enjoyed the heck out of both. My tv is not run through my 2 channel sound system. Sonics played little part in my enjoyment. It was, as you say, all about the musicianship. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jXsD7K65PA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWRt6TYDIpY

One way to minimize the effect of a large tv between your speakers is to use a video projector and screen. The screen is essentially cloth and should have minimal effect on sound. There are a lot of new compact desktop projectors that can be setup and taken down quickly as needed. 

@stuartk , I watched them. Thank you! @mashif , I will likely put a video screen of some sorts in my main listening room again, as I know it will be awesome. Thank you, MrD.

Watching those Armatrading videos got me learning guitar recently. Something clicked. Love that woman.