Can a great system make a mediocre recording sound good?

@telemarcer

I notice the differences in recordings much more as my system improves.

Better systems tend to have wider bandwidth, but mediocre recordings don't, and here lies the problem.

Playing back recordings which favour the midrange ie most pop, on a wide bandwidth system is unlikely to lead to satisfaction. Not when the sound is getting pulled apart and brutally exposed.

Those recordings tend to sound better on systems which favour the midrange.

I suspect this is also part of the reason why small speakers like the classic LS3/5 remain so popular.

Virtually any recording will sound good on them.

Depends on the listener  .

@mapman 

+1

Sometimes it's the shortest posts that make the most sense ! 

Play “ocean” by JB3 and then the live version. Totally different.

In my experience, a well resolving system makes a mediocre recording sound worse, as it brings out everything in that recording