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.
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.