I made two replies, just for fun. Last one was on the car tunes and this one on the thing you brought up about audiophiles and their musical tastes.

I've noticed what you described too, but not only do I see it in others but also in myself. Some people have more music source material than I do, and some less. Same with audio equipment. I have exactly as much of both as I could afford.

I've found myself occasionally listening to the equipment rather than the music. Sometimes I select material specifically to listen for nuances in the equipment or to demonstrate something to someone else. This is usually when I have something new and I am sort of testing it out. In those moments, I am doing critical listening with emphasis on the equipment.

This is mostly true of new loudspeaker designs but also when I purchase new amps or other equipment. There are usually a few weeks or maybe a couple months when I am working on something or evaluating it. During that time, I am hypercritical and sensitive to its performance. I listen to familiar material that tends to show me weaknesses in certain areas. And at these times, I am totally listening to the machine. The source material is the baseline and the equipment is the subject.

Most times, it's the other way around. When I have a system completed, I sort of compartmentalize it and don't ever look back at it technically. After I am satisfied with a design or a piece of equipment, I rarely listen to it the same way again. From then on, I listen to the subject material and don't even notice the equipment. I cease to analyze it or listen for strengths and weaknesses. I have already analyzed the system and am confident in its performance. I am comfortable that I can reach full power and put it through its paces without a failure. I can expect it to sound right. So after I have completed a design, I can forget it and sit back and enjoy it. The equipment becomes the baseline and the source material becomes the subject. This is when I am able to really enjoy the sound.

Wayne