After listening to speakers with different dispersion patterns I'm fairly convinced that some recordings sound better with a narrower dispersion speaker, or a highly absorptive, well damped space. Other recordings seem to benefit from more ambience in the listening space. I also think it is possible for a more revealing system to make a recording that you used to like seem less enjoyable. Some recordings seem to sound no better through exotic speakers than through an old transistor table top radio. On a good system the contrast in sound quality between recordings is more striking, upping expectations and making low quality recordings more disappointing. You can't even tell stereo from mono recordings on a limited frequency response table top radio.
Your system quality vs. recording quality
This is what I find frustrating. Some recordings sound amazing, even better with a great system. And then there are recordings that just don’t sound good. And these recordings are from very good performers (why didn’t they put out a better quality recording?? Is it that difficult?).
A revealing system will highlight problem recordings.
No matter how much is spent on quality components, it’s very hard to make subpar recordings sound great.
A profound dilemma.
A revealing system will highlight problem recordings.
No matter how much is spent on quality components, it’s very hard to make subpar recordings sound great.
A profound dilemma.