What is a high end stereo SUPPOSED to sound like?

i don't think there is a definitive answer. after all "high end" systems do not all sound the same.

so i would say as have others, it should remind you of the sound of the timbre of instruments, and it should please the owner of the stereo system.

nonoise, experiments reported in stereophile years ago, confirm your position.

it would seem that the issue of the designation "high end", is irrelevant to the enjoyment of music, especially if the latter is the reason for having a stereo system in the first place.

since there are many "high end" components, combinations of such components will configure stereo systems which sound different. thus there is no "high end sound", but rather many "high end" "sounds".

what is more important is that the owner enjoys what he hears.

the problem with the term "high end", is that is a typical audiophile term.

it has no definitive definition.

if , as audiophiles, we could agreee on the definition of high end, the question raised by this thread would be answered.

the fact that there are so many responses indicates that, like other audiophile terms, its subjective in nature and either is a rhetorical question or is a matter of opinion.

i suppose then that asking the question is designed to elicit as many perspectives as possible.

as a practical matter it doesn't have any affect upon one's ability to enjoy listening to recordings.

such a question demonstrates that philosophy and "audiophilia", share many attributes.