What is a "reference" system?

My belief is "reference" implies one has more than one system, and the "reference" is the best one. That may be the most familiar, or most revealing system. If one has only one system then that must be their reference system, regardless of price or sound quality. 

Yes, I also do think it is ridiculous- seems like bragging to me. Would a reviewer test a product without putting it in the "reference system"? Obviously not, so why then explain to readers at the onset of the review  it was tested in the "reference system" ? Simply list the other components in the system it was used with. 

Good point by @rbstehno 

Would you buy a Marantz reference series component?

I have moved on from that many years ago. Their sound was always restrained, not engaging enough, making it very difficult to be able to evaluate the complexities of music sounds and their projection. You really need to lift the veil before you can use a system as "reference" imo.

What some call a reference system, one might also call it a baseline system.  I believe that is more descriptive of its status to the owner.

When I was in high school my reference system was the AM radio in the dashboard of a '50 Ford driving eight speakers stolen from drive-in movie theaters.

@fastfreight 

like most things in audio, it’s a bs term, loaded with subjectivity.  To me it means the most in the context of a professional reviewer.  As in “…compared to my reference DAC, DAC X sounds…”