Interesting comments IMO. My thoughts - Your system is, of course your reference, since it's what you listen to, you have no choice, but that does not make it, "Reference system" caliber. To me a reference system is one with a level of musical realism that is much closer to the recorded event than a facsimile. This requires a level of clarity, tonal accuracy, dynamic capability and spacial accuracy that the vast majority of systems (including the room and appropriate acoustic treatment) don't achieve. And due to the tonal accuracy and dynamics requirements, it usually requires quite large speakers of very high - quality output capability along with an equally high - quality system.
What is a "reference" system?
OK, most of us have an audio system, mine even works some of the time. But I see that some members have "reference" systems. This has to be better than the assorted junk that I have piled together. Probably a lot better than your rig as well.
But really, what distinguishes these folks "reference" systems from the pedestrian systems that the rest of us have? There must be something, or they could just save the keyboard time and drop the word when discussing their gear. And I am not referring to reviewers, that is a different story and one to examine more carefully in the future.