Can a great system make a mediocre recording sound good?

It might make it better, but probably won't make it good...

no doubt that better systems are more revealing

of recording quality variations, of equipment quality variations

nature of the beast

smart, experienced folks tailor how the system plays in light of the type and quality of recordings they expect to listen to mostly...

The best audio system is not revealing "per se" ...

Revealing of what?

Details?

A good audio system reveal the WHOLE through the parts and the PARTS through the whole...

Focusing on microdetails for their sake is the opposite of a good sound...It is fatiguing and not musical...

Many costly system in bad room sound like microscope...

I prefer my 500 bucks system in my audio room...

 ROOM Acoustic rule,  not details or sounds  plankton coming from gear ability to be a microscope for the ears...

I listen musicians not details...

I have to agree with mahgister. I want my system to illuminate the music it plays.. I want it to go for the gestalt.

To me, a great system is one that makes most recordings sound good and good recordings sound great. Too many audiophile systems sound good only when playing audiophile records. If you have a system like that, there's something wrong.