So how can a great system solve less than great recordings

Lyra, a 13k cartridge, impressive. I suspect turntable kinda nice too.

Introducing my Woodsong Garrard 301 inspired me to upgrade every other component. It may not be the best but it has a drive and life-like sound that is addictive. Especially now with the Lyra, Triplanar arm and Atma-Sphere MP-1. The $28K MP-1 is among the only uber preamp that was designed to be full featured with phono stage dedicated to the ultimate vinyl playback.
With my AGD Audion mono blocks and Tetra 606 speakers, even with formerly poor recordings, I am in Audio nervana.

Everything starts with the source material. Anything after the source material is just masking shortcomings in the original material. While some equipment will help with the overall sound, I think you know how important the source material is. I haven't read all of the posts, but I'm sure people have given SOME good advice!

@riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook

re: "It would pay to do your "homework" as to what recordings sound best for each title you want in your collection".

Very good idea-- not so easy to put into practice!

I've given up on S. Hoffman forums as one never knows what sort of system participants have or what they consider to be good sound. 

I followed some recommendations based on their "shoot-outs" and was disappointed. 

Really, the only truly reliable source of "recommendation" is one's own ears, listening to one's own system. 

Now playing one of my two Better Records. Yes, it is a big step up.
OK, they are worth it. Now more than ever! Goes from the sound of humans to the sound of G-d. A religious experience.
But I still look forward to every “regular” record.

That is my experience as well. When listening to my "regular" records it is real easy to be happy. Beyond happy. They sound wonderful! Especially sometimes when the system is really nice and warm and sounding good, it is easy to think, "How much better can it get?"

But then I put on a White Hot Stamper and instantly, "What were you thinking???!" lol! They are totally better! Even though some like Silk Degrees the noise level on my Hot Stamper is so much worse than my "regular" copy - which actually is a Half Speed Mastered audiophile pressing, and pretty good. But the Hot Stamper is so much better sound quality I just have to put up with the noise, it is so worth it.

My Super Hot copy of Sinatra-Basie is so good the last guy here said it was the best he ever heard anything, anywhere. Well who am I to argue? ;)

It just goes to show how hard this is, how many variables, a lot of them no one would ever imagine could matter. Then you put on two examples of the exact same record and they sound completely different. After a while you begin to realize just how hard it is to even be sure when you say "recording" if you really are hearing the recording, or the pressing of the recording, or the particular copy of the pressing of the recording or....?