Quality system, make poor recordings sound better?

what makes a great recording ? To me as i am skipping around my digital library the songs that have pleasant frequencies are listened to most . Along with great separation of instruments in the soundstage . Maybe strong bass notes will get me listening to a particular track also.

A great recording with have dimension (width and depth) and won't be harsh. There will be detail and subtlety. There will be dynamic contrasts too. The bass won't be rolled off, nor will it be too boomy.

In a way, its the kind of thing that when you hear it, you will know.

I share Syntax's view. Humans are attracted to music and respond in an emotional way. If the components can't convey the soul and emotion of music what good are they?

Todd Rundgren has released a number of great music/horrible sound combinations. He frequently gets harsh sound in the upper midrange thru brightness regions and accompanying sibilant vocals. The sound sucks to varying degrees depending on the playback system.

Some very fine systems will highlight the sonic issues and others will soften the blow. I have heard Nearly Human on a Merlin VSM via Pathos amp and CD player rendered virtually unlistenable. Substitute SF Cremonas and things get a bit better. Switch out to Verity Parsifal Encores and they're better yet.

However, other less than stellar recordings do not behave the same way. Bottom heavy, dull recordings often sound better thru the Merlins. Donald Fagen (to double down on Steely Dan) sometimes let's the bottom end run away from him. His solo material generally fares worst on the P/E and best on the Merlin.

My own take is that some quality systems are less forgiving of particular sonic ills than are others. I think it's tough to generalize.

Just MHO.

This may go against the grain of many of the folks that frequent this website, and others of its ilk, but I read the following software review with an appreciation of the author's content and biases:

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2014/06/daniel-hertz-master-class-review.html

As such I have decided to purchase the product in hopes that it can ameliorate, if not completely eliminate, the recording anomalies that have rendered too many of the rock and roll tracks in my CD collection nearly unlistenable on the main rig.

We shall see, but Mr. Levinson assures me that I will be more than satisfied with the results.

GLR