One of the many traps of the audiophile hobby is thinking if the system is better, the music will sound better.
In my experience, yes and no. The more revealing a system is, the more it will emphasize both the strengths and weaknesses of recordings. I personally have found myself ignoring great swaths of my collection not because I didn't like the music, but because the recording isn't up to the standards of my best recordings. That wasn't an issue before I started buying High-end equipment so many years ago.
Over time I've learned to just kick back and relax on the couch on lesser recordings instead of sitting in the listening chair, with no concern about flat or incoherent soundstage, etc etc.. This approach has worked for me.
The vast amount of recorded music was not done with "critical listening"in mind. It was and is a product made to sell, and mixed to sound reasonably ok on radio and on the systems of the era, and the tastes of their intended audience.
In my experience, yes and no. The more revealing a system is, the more it will emphasize both the strengths and weaknesses of recordings. I personally have found myself ignoring great swaths of my collection not because I didn't like the music, but because the recording isn't up to the standards of my best recordings. That wasn't an issue before I started buying High-end equipment so many years ago.
Over time I've learned to just kick back and relax on the couch on lesser recordings instead of sitting in the listening chair, with no concern about flat or incoherent soundstage, etc etc.. This approach has worked for me.
The vast amount of recorded music was not done with "critical listening"in mind. It was and is a product made to sell, and mixed to sound reasonably ok on radio and on the systems of the era, and the tastes of their intended audience.