The difference between a great performance and a mediocre one is passion. Both could sound equally accurate, but the one with feeling or energy or ok, call it musicality, will always get the nod from me. Seeking musicality makes comparing components easier too. I couldn't care less where the suck-outs or exaggerations are, if the musical message comes across more fully. I'm sure there's a whole lot of a'philes seeking to achieve some kind of exact replica of the studio or live performance. My gut tells me these people hear mostly with their ears and less so with their hearts. C'est la vie, whatever turns you on.
musicality vs. accuracy
I am trying out interconnects and some sound very accurate AQ Annaconda, Nirvana SX. Some sound less accurate but to me more muscal HT, Acoustic Zen, Cardas. Which is better? When I listen to the Audioquest There is less between the images but it doesn't seem as thrilling. It kind of reminds me of the reivew of the Wisdom loudspeakers in TAS by harry pearson. He said at first the speakers sounded accurate but not very involving but after trying a dozen Amp, preamp combinations he settled on the Gamut power amp and the speakers ended up being very fun to listen to.