What is a high end stereo SUPPOSED to sound like?

As has been pointedly pointed out, live music is the reference for all things audio. Hopefully, during the recording process that live reference is adhered to.

Once the recording is made, it becomes, de facto, the only reference we have.

Keeping that in mind, that recording can only sound so good and all your hifi stereo has to do is faithfully reproduce what the recording engineers had in mind.

It's sad that we are prisoners to the whims of engineers and market forces, limiting the potential that lies in that CD, LP or download.

I don't think we give our stereo systems enough credit for what they do. We constantly upgrade, fiddle and tweak and it brings to mind what the dragon sees when it's chasing its tail: a fleeting image, a moving target that looks different every time he turns his head around.

All the best,
Nonoise

NoNoise summed up what we all wish was the case nicely: "live music is the reference for all things audio. Hopefully, during the recording process that live reference is adhered to."

Unfortunately, this is almost never the case, and most audiophiles have no idea just how much this reference is totally ignored by most recording engineers, even when they are recording a live performance in an excellent hall.

I suspect audio engineers want their work to stand out just like most pros so they all do their own thing as best we can.

Recording what a live performance sounds like was cool and cutting edge back in the 50s but probably pretty passe and non distinguishing these days.

They are artists in theif own right like Monet, Picasso, etc. Artists create, not reproduce in general.

One thing i have been striving for recently (I go in waves of interest on hi-fi,
right now i am 'back in') is to have 'normal' records, i.e., standard pressings
of stuff, sound good, rather than just the tried and true audiophile tested
records. I've taken a serious interest in going back to older pop stuff from
the 60's and 70's as well as jazz, blues and classical records. I will still buy
the occasional 'audiophile' record- sometimes it's unavoidable because the
standard pressing is so bad (read: Lost Highway pressing of Shelby
Lynne's Dusty record or the Junior Wells Hoodoo Man Blues), but alot of
the old Warner Bros and Columbia 'standard issue' records can sound
great. I've been able to enjoy the music more, and worry less about how
good the system sounds. But, I'm at a point where the system is pretty
mature right now, no overwhelming needs, other than a new room! (Soon
to come). PS: I'm still not entirely happy with the bass, but I'm hoping that
will get sorted as part of a new room.
Good thread.

since there are many "high end" components, combinations of such components will configure stereo systems which sound different. thus there is no "high end sound", but rather many "high end" "sounds".

what is more important is that the owner enjoys what he hears.