Have your say & ask the experts

Over the last couple of years I have come across several hi-fi enthusiasts who are just that - hi-fi enthusiasts. These are people who have spent hundreds and, often, thousands of pounds on superb hi-fi equipment but only have a handful of recordings to play on it. We're all different and each to his own of course, but surely the music has to come first? My collection numbers some 2,000 CDs and about 120 LPs which I enjoy all the more for having quality hi-fi at my disposal, but if I was starting again and had only £1,000 for music and hi-fi I would definitely opt for a Denon DM37DAB with some Tannoy F1 Customs and spend the rest on building a good basic music collection.

I raise this here because I'm interested in what everyone else thinks about this issue of balance. Do you agree with me, that the music comes first, or are some of you more interested in the equipment?

i agree, i did have several hundred CDs collected over time before my recent foray into hifi land (years ago i did have a denon/kef separates system which i do still have)

however i will say that having my current set up has got me more into music so i find i do buy more music now i have kit....
maybe its a chicken/egg situation and not so clear cut...?

It all starts with the music IMO.

I remember being a kid and listening to 'Master of Puppets' on a crappy walkman in the back of the car, and loving it, as my Mum & Dad took us on the long drive to visit relatives in Scotland.

I guess it snowballed from there.

If I didn't have the love for listening to music, I wouldn't have bothered buying 'decent' kit. Much the same as I'm not a massive gamer, so still have a PS2 (along with a Wii). If I was a gaming freak, I'd have a PS3 or ultra high spec PC. I don't think if I had a PS3 I'd be any more of a hardcore gamer than I am.