Is a highly discerning system enjoyable?

this conversation reminds me of one of the amp setups i use at times is the lyngdorf gear, in my case the tdai 3400

in addition to the best feature it provides (the easy room correction capability), the second best and also terrific feature is easily tappable, selectable contour or sound shaping profiles on its control app -- this allows for max clarity or ’neutrality’ for the 85-90% of the time, for focused, intentful listening, then a quick tap provides a subtly smoother sweeter response when needed on the other occasions, when a more ’background music’ tonality is preferred, or a shrill recording is being played

modern day version of the ol' tone controls or loudness button... but a much more precise, tailorable, controllable for positive effect on the musical presentation

YES,NO,MAYBE!!

there is much to be said for taking problem recordings, digitizing them, removing the problems, then burning them onto a CDR for future listening. then there is "tone control courage." case in point is the 1999 columbia rerelease of the famous 1938 all-star carnegie hall jazz concert which has abysmal sonics, conventional tone controls/EQ weren't up to fixing it, so i ran it through CEDAR declicking and decrackling with judicious restraint, used parametric EQ to get rid of the telephonic coloration those old transcription discs were noted for, mild digital NR/spectral editing to get rid of the hashy surface noise and chuffs. BIG DIFFERENCE. 

@erik_squires 

Funny you should bring up U2 War.

Always loved that record, until I bought a first UK pressing of it.

Realized that I’d only ever listened to it in a car, when the tracks happened to show up on the radio. Worked so well in the car. Not so great in my home set up which at the time was a tube integrated (Cary SLI-50) going into Decware DM946’s from a Clearaudio Concept.

Going to revisit it with the current set up which is completely different. DIY heavy plinth Lenco into upgraded Cary SLP-30 pre to DIY Hiraga Super 30 class a to DIY Seas coax sealed enclosures. 
 

Will be an interesting revisiting of War as this is a more revealing system, but also more musical to my ears than the previous set up.

Ok this thread made me give “War” a quick streaming.   Oh my! Glorious!    Who even knew all that was there!