What Is Most Important?

The media is the largest changing variable in how any system performs. IMHO 

@nutty

The media is the largest changing variable in how any system performs. IMHO

I’d agree also.

There’s a huge market in reissues and remastering, and just once in a while, they get it right.

I’m not sure about classical releases but with pop, more often than not, the original CD issues from the 1980s still remain the best.

A good example is the Beatles, where more or less everything after Revolver is best found on the original 1987 releases.

With classical, I suspect that since far more care was taken of the original recording quality, subsequent remastering is usually less of a concern.

Disappearing act, that a well setup system does. This is most important to me.

@cd318 - indeed there are some decent releases from the 80's, but there are bands like Midnight Oil, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Metallica, and loads of others whose mid-80's released CD's are horrible - low volume and compressed to death. Fortunately re-masters have come out of all of these....

I am going to say amplification.    Sure , speakers are crucial .  But how many of us can afford or have the space for our dream speaker?   

My Zesto pre and Toolshed Amps 300b have definitely elevated my system to audio nirvana.    Anyone with preconceived notions of Klipsch Forte IV would be quite surprised how they sound driven by great equipment.   While not my end game speaker they are pretty satisfying until that day arrives .