Music first or sound first?

Here is another vote for music first.  Music often got me through the rough patches in life and now that I’m thankfully retired, I have the luxury of time to fully enjoy it. I now have time to explore new artists and genres of music which are often not the best recorded. I do fully agree with @sokogear that one of the joys of being an Audiophile is to be able hear familiar music in the best possible light and to hear things you never heard before. But when I force myself to listen to recordings just because they sound good, I start to get bored.

I’m just now realizing how far down the rabbit hole I was.  Whether consciously or unconsciously, the quest for good sound dominated my choice of what music to play.   
That very impressive, expensive behemoth (my rig) standing in front of me was just too much to resist. 
Now, thank the gods, the music is first.  Hopefully it will remain so.  
I really envy those that are not seduced by the glories of their system.

Sound first is a dead end for me.

Music is most important, and the best is when the stereo enables you to hear more of it or hear it better. There is nothing better than noticing something in a song or album you've listened to hundreds of times that you never heard before.

I can like a song in the car, on the bose wave in the garage or on the stereo, but I like it most on the stereo because I can hear it better and more of it. The fact that it is vinyl only is not coincidental.

It’s such a pleasure when you put the music before the sound. 
You stimulate a whole different aesthetic, and often you can then really enjoy both

The left side of the brain listens to the gear, the right side to the music. Turn off the left side, relax and enjoy the music. That said I'm always on the hunt for new gear. Which is why we're reading this blog right? Looking for ways to improve our system. 

When your system achieves that astonishing level of realism, you're  content to listen at lower volume levels. Turning up the volume is to compensate for lack of detail and involvement. You're trying to get your emotional fix through volume alone.

Have you ever been surprised to find that dawn is breaking because you put a new piece of gear into your system and it made such an improvement that the music just sucked you in and you've pulled another all nighter?

e.g. Oracle 6 with ET2 arm and Benz Gullwing cartridge into MFA SuperLumi. Also the Nagra CD Player.

Would you rather listen to a great recording or go to a concert to hear the so-called absolute sound? So-called cuz live music is a crapshoot. Sometimes the conductor gets an astonishing performance out of the orchestra but other times they just seem to be phoning it in. 

Like a great new piece of gear, great recordings can keep you up all night too. Richter's recording of Bach Cantatas makes you realize why Bach has such a rabid following. 

My next new piece of gear is a dedicated listening room. Always wanted to hear what a golden ratio listening room sounds like. As I've never come across one, I'm driven to build mine own. System will be a Studer A80 feeding into Nagra HD Pre into Manley Massively Passive EQ into VTL Wotans into Klipsch Jubilee with Fostex 31.5 inch subs. With a concrete slab floor, I'm expecting bass even God has never heard.

Good sound is useless without good music. Not so the converse.  

In my case I started liking good sound first, then my friend told me my system sounds so good but it’s not musical, So I then pursue the musical side.

Without good sound, I could not enjoy the music. Hard to separate them. 

So true @pcrhkr .

Sound first. Listening to music on a system that does not accurately reproduce music is horrible. I will not enjoy my favorite music at home if it does not sound Good. If I am in my car, or outside, I am not emersed in the music, but have it on to keep me alert. So when I settle down on the couch to listen to music on my Hi-Fi, it is something exciting and special to me.

Perception is not a single thing, but a composite of several independent factors. One is Evaluation, which ranges between Pleasing and Annoying. Musical quality probably relates very much to this component of sound.

However, other factors include Potency and Arousal. Potency is the perceptual quality of strength or robustness, which ranges between Delicate and Robust. The level of Potency of a sound is influenced by the low-frequency content of the source material and the audio system's ability to reproduce it. It is neither good nor bad but, rather, present or absent depending upon the source material. Here, acoustic metrics can access the quality of the reproduced sound.

Arousal is the perceptual quality of intensity. The level of Arousal of a sound is influenced by the dynamics of the source material and the audio system's ability to reproduce it. It, also, is neither good nor bad but, rather, present or absent in relation to the source material. Once again, acoustic metrics can access quality of of the reproduced sound.

Potency and Arousal can't make unpleasant music sound more pleasing, but they can improve the sensory quality of the music. I like the sound of Ducati motorcycles, but I wouldn't call that music. Well...

Form : sound

Function : music 

I listen to my music on my "audiophile" system, on Beyerdynamic 880 headphones, Koss Porta Pro headphones or inexpensive Bluetooth earbuds at the gym. So obviously the music comes first. If I went broke and was only left with my $200 JBL 30x studio monitors I'd still be happy listening to my music. Without enjoyable music the sound is meaningless. 

+1 @layton64 

Music first. You want 'sound', just go outside. 

~Wes

I spent a period choosing "audiophile Quality recordings without regard to the music genre. Doing this I discovered and enjoyed music that I would never considered listening to. Great way to expand music appreciation. 

I play music that is stuff I want to hear. My system still surprises me how good it sounds, but it is music that is the purpose of the system.  

I  have a number of piano roll recordings done by Saint-Seans, Ravel, Debussy, etc, and while I marvel at their playing, it's a real treat to hear it sound so good.  My system excels on voices and acoustic piano.  It is fully capable of presenting anything I want to hear, at whatever level I want, in a very large room.  The sound is a pleasure, but it is always in service to the music.

It's always the "sound" to start, but it doesn't last long.

I started out listening to the sound until I got my system where I wanted it.

These are some of the honest feedback. I am in the same boat.

I think that many  audiophiles feel that they will be looked down upon, if they claim that they are moved by sound rather than music. It's almost like "audiophile" is a derogatory term and "music enthusiast" is the acceptable norm. And yet we try to make our sound/music as close as possible to reality. Strangely 1% or less of the entire human population are the people who care for their music to be reproduced as accurately as possible, trying to get the best (within budget) DAC, amp, loudspeakers, etc.

I started out listening to the sound until I got my system where I wanted it. Now it’s all about the music.

It's always the "sound" to start, but it doesn't last long.

Then the "music" takes over and I am lost.

my daughter would listen to music on her iphone. All the time. One day I had enough, I had to set her up with a decent beginner/vintage system. She hasn't turned on the iPhone since, other than to stream.  

@mijostyn 

I tend towards the same perspective. Stereo is indeed a hobby.  Music is where the real gold lies. However, when great sound and great music are combined it’s bliss.

Yes, music first, but what about noise being played at a big box store, you guys gotta admit that's a little to much. Static with a beat. Please make it stop!

@rvpiano  I view music and sound quality as two completely separate issues. Most of the music I listen to is on lower quality devices. I am addicted to music. It is playing at least 90% of the time I am awake, in the car, the shop, the bathroom, the workout room, the garage and finally my media room. At best only 10% is in the media room with the main system. Music is an addiction, stereo is a hobby. 

It’s interesting how tech advancements have gone the other way with music.  
Even 20 years ago, the likelihood that one would have a pair of speakers larger than the size of a baseball with a receiver and CD player was much higher than today.  
Now it’s a speaker the size of a baseball just spitting out streaming service data.  
Retail shops seem totally okay with their “in-store music” being whatever shrill noise pollution the checkout person behind the counter is spitting out of their cell phone speaker.  
It seems like poor ol’ music has got it comin’ & goin’; bastardized by modern consumerism and, conversely, merely fodder for gear heads to listen to their gear.  
There’s got to be a better middle ground.

Normal music listening used to be: tuner-or-TT-or-cassette deck-or-CD player —> integrated amp / receiver —> speakers-larger-than-a-baseball.  
That setup was not “audiophile,” it was just normal. Audiophiles merely had more advanced versions (better individual pieces, separates, etc.).  
Now the standard for “normal” has dropped to truly pitiful levels.

Perfect World Scenario: the vast majority of people had a normal / non-pitiful method of music-listening, and audiophiles merely enjoyed music via their more advanced method, devoid of the dismissals and narrow-mindedness that accompanies the “I only listen to ‘well-recorded music’ mindset.”

For critical listening SQ is a big factor. Now that my ears have been spoiled with a fairly good rig I cant even listen to some of my old favorite songs that are fair to poor recordings. I think better systems bring out the best in good recordings and the worst in fair to bad recordings.

Yet,  Im ok with wife's blue tooth JBLs by the pool where its just background music.

I do now appreciate other music that I use to not like if its a quality recording.

Ex. Bought an Analog Production lp of various female singers. Some I knew I liked others no. Judy Collins Diamonds and Rust was an instant turn off on the radio, but this Analog Production version sounds so good its my go to for showcaseing my rig to friends. 

Something to consider… if it weren’t for the music, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. The music came first.

Music first.

I did read all the posts...some thoughtful, insightful and honest commentary.

I recall hearing Nat King Cole’s voice at around 5 years old and associate that with my Dad’s reel-to-reel that was in a small suitcase.

I bought my first "hi-fi" from the Sear’s catalogue with lawn mowing money when I was 9 or 10. $129.77 cents. I pretended to be sick so I could stay home from school the day it was due to be delivered.

I helped my Dad pick out a JVC separates system that cost $1,270 in time for Xmas when I was around 12. The first records played on it were Rumors, Band on the Run, Toys in the Attic, Animals, Time Out, Don’t Shoot me I’m only the Piano Player, and some Oscar and Ella records.

Today we travel with a B&O A1.

I started the audiophile journey Xmas 2018 when my wife bought me a $100 BT record player to connect with our 5.1 AV system. I played the DSOTM album that came with the gift once, and had to tell her it would ruin the record, so I sent it back and bought a Pro-Ject carbon debut. It also sucked so I kept going.

5 years later...I still enjoy the music first but when I sit down for a dedicated listening session, the recording matters...a lot; and that’s when the system takes over, and it’s pretty awesome.

I know many listeners who do not care much about the music, but do care about the reproduction of the music. This to me, is sad. Maybe I place music 1st because I was a singer in a choral group and a local band in my youth. I also took music classes in school, and both of those taught me the appreciation of music. I can enjoy the music on my patio outdoor speakers mounted under the eve, and a blue tooth speaker on a blanket at the beach. If you are not receiving an emotional connection with the message of the performances ( the music ), then, you are putting the sound, and the equipment,1st. Lying to oneself is ok with me, but I cannot live without listening to music....anywhere. I believe someone here mentioned listening to Sticky Fingers, and mentioned some songs " sounded " much better than others. I agree, but the " performances " by the Stone’s members, is what I listen for. After all, this is a " recording " that I am listening to, and if I am in the mood to hear Sticky Fingers, it is the singing of Mick Jagger, the mighty fine guitar playing of Mick Taylor ( 2 Micks ) and Keith Richards, the rhythm playing of Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman, and lest not forget the other musicians here, including Bobby Keys, Billy Preston, and a few other incredible musicians. The music is the connection for me. My rig.....allows me to hear more of it. And, feel it ! Better sound reproduction = I hear more of it. My best, MrD.

@mahler123 

Right you are!

@mahler123 everyone but me 👻 but I am working on it

I haven’t read all the threads here but I suspect more people voted for music, even if they aren’t being truthful 

A person who’s a natural tinkerer / gear person and just likes the science / tech side of things? More power to ya.

And bad mastering is just a bad, bad thing.

However, it’s very sad to me to think a person couldn’t enjoy beautiful music because the recording doesn’t resemble whatever their idea of a “well-recorded piece of music” is.  
For a multitude of reasons, I find that very sad.

Growing up, my parents owned a small, indie record store in Denver back in the late 70s and early 80s. It's where I not only was exposed to my parents' taste in music that ran the gamut from the delta blues, R&B, soul, jazz, rock, zydeco, swamp pop, rockabilly, and classical but also allowed me to discover my musical taste for punk, ska, reggae, dub, early hip hop, new wave, industrial, Americana, early ambient and electronic music as well.  My mid-fi setup has always been about the music and upgrading over time has been a way to enjoy my collection even more. Graduating from the early Montgomery Ward all-in-one stereo I had as a kid to the hand-me-down separates my father gave me was a gateway to finally hearing the music in a way that was just not possible via the radio.

Now I'm in my early 50s and there isn't a day that doesn't go by where I'm not listening to music. Whether it's casual background music or later at night after the kids are in bed and I can put my headphones on and enjoy a few hours of purposeful listening - revisiting old favorites or discovering new artists or new-to-me albums/artists I ignored in my early years. It's not about getting the absolute perfect sound, just the best sound for enjoying music. 

A catch 22 question as both are important. We probably all fell in love with music first as that is what communicated to us and continues to touch us in a deep way. Then we were exposed to that music being played on a HiFi set up and what grabbed us was how great the music sounded and what detail we had been missing on the radio or a more modest music system. With music my friends phrase 'too much music too little time' springs to mind as I continue to seek out  new artists, but at the same time sound is key too. So I'm going to cheat, and say I put both first, it's not an either, or - but both that deliver me enjoyment.

Music first.  I definitely prefer to listen to good music that suits my mood than a demo disc that has great sound but not-so-great music.  Fortunately, I own some discs that have both, but the combination is unfortunately rare.  The good recordings are helpful for selecting gear, especially if I'm familiar with them, but I an enjoy lesser recordings as much or more if the music is great.

Music 1st, without a doubt. I can listen to and enjoy music anywhere, on any playing platform. I love music, 1st and foremost. When I listen to my system, the advantage here for me is that it creates a greater sense of I am there, or they are here. Following the " musicianship " and enjoying the " composition " is easy on my main rig. Listening in the car as an example, my brain needs to fill in some of the nuances that are missing, plus the attention being given to the driving. My system allows me to be immersed & engaged, feeling as if the musicians and I are sharing a space. The home rig simply gets me closer to the enjoyment, without interruption, because it just does. Music is always on, unless I am watching a movie or a show, I am sleeping, or out and about. Obviously, I must like the music, enjoy it. My best, MrD.

@rvpiano - GREAT QUESTION!

The responses have been quite interesting and entertaining as well. I believe in some ways the sound and music go hand in hand. If you don't like a particular genre of music, I don't believe you'd enjoy it no matter how wonderful a system is. However I don't believe the converse to be 100% true. Someone mentioned listening to music on a transistor radio in their youth... How many times have you turned up the volume on your car radio when a favored song or band started playing, even though your car's system is likely not nearly as good as your home rig? 😉

For my part, as I've improved my system over the years I've found my enjoyment of music has blossomed. Additionally the past few years I've branched out into jazz and classical as well. It's all a fun adventure, eh?

Happy listening.

A synergistic interaction between the two goes on, each driving my desire at different times.

to chose between the two seems silly, they go hand in hand

@Larsman   +1.   Looking at the other side,  what good is a great stereo if you don't play music that you like?  

The sound of music.

Music.

I can enjoy great music on a lousy system, but I prefer a great system, and I am blessed to have one--and blessed that it was less than $50k all-in.  I am also blessed to not have fallen prey to the perpetual dissatisfaction that can be a part of the experience for those who are drawn to great reproduction, though I can certainly sympathize with it.

I was beguiled in my high-school years (late 70s) by ads from Marvin Electronics in Ft. Worth, Texas.  I still recall their ultimate system consisting of Macintosh electronics, Studer Revox RTR, a Gale turntable, and Dayton-Wright electrostatic loudspeakers...So I have a pretty deep legacy of interest in the highest end, which has always been (sometimes slightly, sometimes greatly) beyond my financial reach.

Sound or music first?

I no longer separate them, they have become both equally important. If one or the other is missing in quality, I just don't enjoy it anymore. No way I listen to bad music with good sound and no way I listen to good music with bad sound. It didn't use to matter, but I guess with age, I've become much more selective  to save the few years left I have of decent hearing.

Music is first for me.  Roon might not have the best sound quality,  but I use it because it is the best tool for discovering new music.  Gear and sound quality is important, but it is secondary.

It's the music first and we buy systems which hopefully will give us more from the moving piece of music we are hearing. Is there more enjoyment to be had from this wonderful musical piece or not. I have to know.

I'm a musician and songwriter, so music without question.

That said, I'm heavily involved in domestic and pro audio.

However, I can listen to music without a hi-fi system but I can't listen to my hi-fi system without music.

So, QED, music is most important to me.

Music! Especially when I do my singalongs

Being a drummer, music for me. Sound is important for sure, it’s all got to hit the buttons. But I enjoy music on my system, in the car, headphones, live, you name it. The thing providing the sound is not the end all be all. Music first.

@tomic601 was very kind to invite me over to hear his Vandersteen 7s. That Vandersteen sound I like ... to the max! I could afford a used pair if I financed them over 10 years or sell a kidney. 😂. But he has the Treo CT’s too and has convinced me I would be very happy with them. I have decided to buy and not buy them alternately at least 50 times. Torturing myself is my main hobby.

He also turned me on to new music, and that is where my pleasure comes from now—discoveries. Streaming has rocked my world, and I have discovered more new artists and music than I ever thought possible. An embarrassment of riches!