How much reality do you really need?

Seems that unless you were there to witness and hear the actual recoding being made, reality is largely undefinable. Everyone is aware of the differences in source quality. A lousy production sounds lousy at any price IMO, a better lousy, but lousy nonetheless. 

I don't think most want the most close to live sound. I think most audiophiles have a preference. How far are you willing to go to achieve this goal? Most tend to push the boundaries further and further and that expands the costs.

In any audio show about 1 in 100 listening rooms reproduces music completely realistically.  It is a rare event and most people never hear it.  Many think they do.  Most vendors don't know how to get there strangely enough.  It's better to talk with the engineers if you can.  When you get "there" with your system, you will find all systems that produce realistic sound, sound alike.  You cannot get more real than real.  It is a hoot actually, and one heck of a lot of work. 

Mijostyn.

Just for the record,
 I prefer lemon in my martinis.

There is one simple trick to dramatically improving your system for about $1.00  Enjoy a small amount of THC prior to sitting down to listen for an hour or two.  Those who do know I speak the truth.  Those who haven't.....