Do you listen mainly to Audiophile CDs and records?

I think the post “forgiving vs resolving” misses the point. At this level (let’s presume a well put together six figure system) resolving is a given. The choice is between resolving in an analytic versus musical sense. The former will render your poor recordings “warts and all” and what you focus on is the wart. The latter lets you hear beyond the problems and focus on the essence of the performance. If you want to test what sort of system you have try playing a noisy LP pressing. Do the crackles and pops lift out and separate from the music, or are they all you can hear?

Al:

I, too, have found that as I have made improvements to my system, overly bright recordings (especially with high strings) have been made more listenable.

I don’t think record companies go out of their way to make a poor sounding recording. After all, we can assume they have engineers with ears.
Generally, they have a philosophy which varies from other companies.
I feel the better resolution my system displays, the closer to the philosophy of each individual company is revealed.

Also, the philosophy of particular engineers within a company are similarly revealed.

I tend to listen to performance before recording, although sometimes they go together (e.g. Solti's Ring on Telefunken vinyl). Still it can be fun to have a sound spectacular.

I didn’t know the Solti Ring was released on Telefunken.  I thought it was only on London.
You are right though, when the two come together it’s bliss!