How much reality do you really need?

i like the icing and until it's there.

I have one requirement: If it’s on the recording, I want to hear it. Without exaggeration or distortion. Simple.

If a recording needs a playback system in order for you to hear it, and every system is different, how do you *really* ever known what’s on the recording?

I know it's not strictly analogous, but this kind of reminds me of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

I'll worry more about this when I can find a recording in which reality has been preserved. Haven't found one yet, but then that is probably because I've never owned a system which could reveal this recorded perfection anyway (maybe I already own such a recording and just don't recognize it as such!).  I've settled on just having an enjoyable listening experience, one without angst about perfection in the performance, recording, or equipment. :-)

There is no reality. It is all an illusion. You want the most believable illusion you can get or the most accurate interpretation of the artist's and engineer's  intension. The only way you can possibly know how far this goes is to hear it and it is the rare system that performs at this level. 
The money spent has less to do with this level of performance than you would think. I would also guess that most of the people here will know it when they here it. In my aging memory there have been exactly three systems that performed at this level. (that I have heard) One was based on a 4 way dynamic speaker, one on a three way ribbon speaker and the last on ESLs. It is what Harry Pearson called "the absolute sound." 
Looking for it can be an addiction. Gammaman just got a set of Magico S7's from a fellow who really needs to be in rehab. He spends ridiculous amounts of money and spits out equipment at an unbelievable rate. Nice guy to know for sure. Just stand at his front door with a catchers glove. 
I hope he finds what he is looking for. 

Real needs to be defined or the discussion is pointless.