What is a high end stereo SUPPOSED to sound like?

Sounds almost live!!

Practically, and in an objective manner consistent with modern best practices for effectively leveraging technology, I would define high end by applying the 80/20 rule therefore a high end system must practically be in the top 20% and better than 80% of the systems out there overall.

Ok, so now you have to define what "better" means. That of course will involve different strokes for different folks.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Does it really matter what "high end " means? Maybe the whole concept should just be dumped.

I'd rather answer in terms of what it's supposed to feel like. You can hear a song from someone like Eva Cassidy on a low end system and like it for the beautiful lyrics. You can hear the same song on a higher end system and feel it in your soul. Of course, it has to be a good song. If the dynamics are there and the sound stage is there and the clarity is there and you can hear every nuance including the breathing and the decay of the notes -- those things and others combine to ignite your emotions at a different level. Low end systems can certainly elicit an emotional response based on the quality of the song but great stereos wrench you like nothing other than live music can. With a great stereo, you don't want to leave the experience.

Bryon and Almarg, are you suggesting lack of neutrality includes any and all perceivable kinds of distortion? If you are, then can we not use "the alternate", aka, accuracy? If we can, then It seems you've summed up this thread. I believe you have. But don't stop now.

Well said Ozfly. I totally agree.