how would you describe a system that is musical in nature

It’s simple. Horns, tubes, and vinyl.

I have heard so many ear bleeding systems, frequently centered around Magico (not a criticism of Magico, but the electronics driving them… and I guess the sensitivity of Magico) with so much detail, high frequency hash, and noise floor it has made me wonder if half the folk interested in high end audio had lost there hearing. 

"...musical..."
I've previously thought that was in regards to the selection played, vs. the components.
Those existed to reproduce that selection in the best manner possible within the space played.

*sigh*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXAU4MmMIMo

'Scuse me while I go eat worms...

Musical engages the heart, like getting lost in the beauty of the music.

Analytical focuses on the details of individual parts of the music, more concerned with quality, accuracy, and the amount of musical information retrieved.

In a demo, play well-recorded music that you love and know well, especially songs that'd get you dancing and your head nodding. If you can hear well into the track and you respond to the sound, then it's a winner. Conversely, certain speakers give a clean, undistorted sound yet be uninvolving and boring in comparison.