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The system can reproduce what is on the CD perfectly. But no recording can sound like the real event.
Some of us strive to reproduce a recording faithfully, while others look simply to create a pleasing sound, no matter what the source. Regardless of how you define perfection, can an audio system ever be perfect?
Given the fact that acoustical instruments have a directivity behaviour which in many cases is extremely different from the directivity behaviour of loudspeakers it is simply not possible that an audio system delivers reproduction faithful to the original. One can try and add as little distortion, coloration, etc, to what has been recorded, but it will never be the real thing.
The quest will be never ending. For two simple reasons. One: Many people are hard to satisfy and have differing perceptions. Therefore, some will think it can be done, but fail to understand that the next person's perceptive skill package will be different and/or more sensitive, varied or complex (Ie, golden ear over the neophyte). This plays out in similar fashion in other areasfrom tasting hamburgers to hair styles, questions in physics and automobile driving. The person with the less developed listening skills (which can be changed through hard work, thought and human effort if a willing and forward thinking variety) will always think the 'task is done',and try and move on to other things in life. That is their choice. This does not mean the task is completed, it merely means that something inside of them has attempted to decide such, and foists such thoughts upon others. Two: (part and parcel of the problem person mentioned above) As long as there is one piece of detritus or electronics, if you prefer, between the listener and the original signal, there will be an issue of error in re-production. There is no escaping that. Therefore, it will never be done. Just a simple decreasing return for efforts as perfection is approacheda well-known phenomenon throughout all sciences and human endeavor.
My best advice, set a budget, do some research, buy used, then step off the merry go round and just enjoy the music. The industry will continue to release "new and improved" products each year to try to lure existing owners into buying new gear. Why? Because if they were honest about the fact that there's no real improvement to be had they'd be out of business. By constantly releasing new versions with little to no real sonic improvement, they date current owners' equipment and make them feel like they're missing out. I have owned the same speakers for almost 20 years and having listened to dozens of newer speakers recently at price points up to 2-3 times what I paid at that time, can say there is little to no difference, IMHO.
A "perfect" system would simply reproduce the imperfect sound of the source. Given the flawed nature of most sources, the more accurate the system, the worse the reproduced sound. Hence, the large number of "unlistenable" discs in most audiophile collections.
More so, it depends on the person. For me, it is a journey not a destination. There is always something that can be added updated, back-dated or simply rearranged. No end point, just the joy of experimenting. On the other hand, the music is the end point and what really matters the most!