In 1973 I assembled my first high end system (ARC electronics, Magneplanar Tympani loudspeakers, Thorens/SME/Decca turntable), and over the next two years came to realize that I was picking LP’s to play based not on musical criteria (or appetite), but rather on recorded sound quality. I found that disturbing, and purposely sold it all and assembled a more modest (in cost and sound quality) system, my listening habits thereafter being determined by the music itself, regardless of sound quality.
Since that time I have slowly assembled a system that is good enough to reproduce recorded music to a level that can be considered relatively high quality, but not so ruthlessly revealing as to make less-than-great recordings sound unpleasant. That endeavor was taken in tandem with a measure of maturity that came with age.
I now listen to music driven by the quality of the music itself, and if that music also sounds great, that's an added bonus. Great sound quality is appreciated, but not mandatory.

