Can a great system make a mediocre recording sound good?

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.

@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.

A well tune room with a relatively good system will not transform bad recording in good one ...

But ALL recordings will become interesting acoustically, because you will be able to appreciate all acoustical cues chosen by the recording engineer and now manifested ...Because your susyen/room is able to do it...

I listen to all my music now with pleasure, bad recording or better one...

I dont speak about artificial horrendous studio commercial trafficked sounds here... For listening to that you will need the worst system possible ...

I spoke about jazz, classical and other "naturally" recorded relatively non trafficked  music styles...

I've found the opposite - the better the system, the more it reveals how bad/mediocre the source was.... Good sounding sources sound even better, though.... 

100% yes. Recordings are works of art, some abstract, and a good hifi let’s you soak it all in.

But you have to learn to appreciate recordings as works of art with unique qualities for better or for worse, not that most are deficient in some way or not technically perfect.