SQ vs. Music

Ninety Percent of the time I listen for the music. I only get hung up on sound quality if the quality is truly outstanding or pushes my buttons the wrong way. Tizzy violin sections and buzzy male vocals do drive me nuts. As does boomy or excessive bass.

I think it was Frogman who asked what you first go for when you first switch on the machines...a particular piece of music or sound quality? In any case, it's a very good question. As for me, I almost always start off with a yen for sound quality.  From then on I just let it happen.  Do I want to dig into my scratchy, distorted old 45's?  Do I want  to cruise Primephonic for an obscure performance of Beethoven's Second Symphony? Or how 'bout that Boston Pops Shaded Dog on the record shelf?

rv piano -- I might be the only one here who thinks this way but, for me, I don't primarily listen to Mahler because his stuff has the potential of being an audio spectacular. Instead, I listen to Mahler for the tunes, the emotions and the worlds he creates. For me, more than any other composer, Mahler conjures up universes that I find myself living inside of. Universes that I can reach out and touch. I remember putting on a Mahler LP for a makeout session with a girlfriend. It was sometime in the 1970's.  She'd never heard of Mahler and, of course, had never heard his music. She said the same thing. Yeah, I really liked that girl...