"Trying to find just one system that will perform best with all types of recordings/music has lead me to believe that one system simply cannot do it all. "
I’ve actually found one system can PERFORM best with all types of music in regards to always delivering all the goods in most any recording in a musical way all the time.
I’ve also found that like ice cream, I may have my favorite flavor of sound that is always my goto, but I also enjoy certain other flavors from time to time. That calls for multiple systems, some better pure "performers" than others.
The extent of my craziness in this regard is I currently have 9 different places and ways to listen these days at home. Each is unique and enjoyable in different ways but there is only one best performer that always sounds "best" and most enjoyable day in and day out to me no matter what.