Bad recordings and high end audio

I do find I sometimes prefer listening to some "lesser" quality recordings on a "lesser" quality secondary system...a great system can magnify faults...some stuff I only like in the car...

Two things to consider.  How loud do you like to listen?  A system that sound great at 95dB may not be the one you prefer at 75dB.  Does your system have tone controls?  Decent tone controls will not make bad recordings great, but they will make them more enjoyable.

Thank you for the quick responses!! Still trying to decide on the other components to go with the 3.7is. There is plenty of information and opinions about that subject on these forums. Unfortunately, the place that had the Maggies had limited options. I do enjoy details of course, I would need to dive in regarding how to use tone controls effectively if my system has them. Is this an important function when I am searching for a preamp or integrated? I think I would have a tendency to  do what was suggested and listen to Led Zeppelin…loud!. Logic told me that i will enjoy all music on my new system, maybe some types better than others. I know there always is a sacrifice. I was just hoping that i did not miss some huge point and all of a sudden I only enjoyed Led Zeppelin through my blue tooth speaker better lol. 

Choosing electronic components are key in enjoying your speakers. For the better part of the last fifty years I have had very revealing planar speakers and have always needed to be cautious of pairing with overly revealing components and making a lot of recordings sound bad… yes, easy to do with planars. I would recommend shying away from components with the words “very revealing”, or “extremely detailed”. A tube preamp… like a new or used Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, VAC… etc… whether individual or integrated would be very high end and not harsh. 

I have faced this repeatedly and always needed to be a step back from most revealing or harshness and poor recordings will take over. The Led Zeplin vinyl is good. I have original and audiophile pressings. I’ll listen to the streaming versions later today and see what I think of them. You can click on my user I’d to see my systems… and hence my inclination,

I was at Mike Lavigne’s a week ago. Mike has master tapes (dubbed, obiously, not original) and played Led Zeppelin. Rest assured, this is NOT a "horrible" recording!   

It is insanely good. There was at one point a particularly incredible guitar screech that made me gasp. Takes a lot to make me gasp. From behind I heard Mike, "As God intended it." Indeed. That is the kind of recording this is. 

Every time I think my expectations of in-store sales are as low as they can go something comes along makes me lower the bar yet again.

If you enjoy driving around being a pita to people who clearly have other better things to do, and who more likely than not will spew nothing but blather, all in order to limit yourself to what few random components happen to be in your area, well then, knock yourself out.

Hope you enjoy it. Hope it works for you.

Myself, I know if I did that then I would have NONE of what I have today. NONE. Not one single thing. Instead I would have nothing but dreck. Absolute dreck.

This is my insight. Stop wasting time with people who do nothing but waste your time. Stop limiting yourself to what few things happen to be nearby. Stop paying retail. Focus on direct sales manufacturers like Tekton, Raven, Decware, Bottlehead, Townshend, Origin Live, etc. Focus on reviews. Within reviews, focus on listening impressions. Within listening impressions focus on emotional involvement. Within emotional involvement look for non-audiophile types who are moved to tears- or experienced audiophiles who say they are done looking now that they have this. Whatever "this" may be. Now you have hit the motherlode. And all without leaving home. Been doing it this way going on 15 years now. Only way to fly.