Can a great system make a mediocre recording sound good?

I spend a lot of time searching for well produced recordings as they (of course) sound so good on my system (Hegel 160 + Linn Majik 140 speakers). I can't tolerate poor sounding recordings - regardless of the quality of the performance itself. I was at a high end audio store yesterday and the sales person took the position that a really high-end system can make even mediocre recordings sound good. Agree?

jcs0104-08-2022 1:09pm

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russ69 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,504 posts 04-08-2022 at 07:23pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Tune your system so it plays 90% of your recordings well. That is the key. If you have a highly critical system, you will only be able to listen to 1% of your collection. Tune your system to satisfy yourself with the music you play.
serjio Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 371 posts 04-08-2022 at 07:46pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete considering that the best music (from the one recorded on media) was already sung in the 20th century and hardly anyone can surpass it (now we have a monstrous degradation of performing skills) - I would not look for systems with a very high resolution ... CD is a good format. With age, you will still come to headphones and YouTube - the content of the song will become the most important factor for you ...
islandmandan Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,260 posts 04-08-2022 at 07:58pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I've owned a CD for years that I could never find listenable on any of the systems I've owned in the nearly twenty years I've owned the disc, a Vanguard Classic recording of J.S. Bach's Brandenberg Concertos, by the English Chamber Orchestra, Johannes Somary conducing. I was able to listen to both CD's in the set, and actually enjoy it. I'm inclined to say the system can have quite an affect on how music sounds on it. Regards, Dan
tomcy6 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,588 posts 04-08-2022 at 08:10pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete It depends on what you consider a great system. A system that is euphonic makes poor recordings sound better but does not make good recordings sound as good as they can. You may tire of the euphonic distortion (usually boosted second and third harmonics which the ear finds pleasing) over time. A system that is accurate and transparent while still being musical, not analytical, will let you hear how bad those bad recordings are but will let you hear just how good a good recording can sound. If you listen to a lot of bad recordings you may tire of the accuracy of this type of system. I find plenty of good recordings in many different genres of music, so finding something to listen to that sounds good and is musically enjoyable is not a problem for me.
cd318 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,636 posts 04-08-2022 at 08:10pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @knotscott The best you can hope for is for the system and any given recording to sound like it did when it took place...good, bad, or indifferent. I agree. Otherwise you’d need to dial in different EQ choices for different recordings, and that way OCD lies.