Opinions

@luvrockin - something I've found that helps me when "listening intently" is selecting the perfect tracks to highlight system performance...

I start by listening to tracks that have lots of venue acoustics
- I tend to use classical quartets or live acoustic performances
- I'm listening for improvements in the reverberations and isolation of artists within the image and the natural tones of voice and/or instrument
Eric Clapton - Unplugged - is pretty good for both acoustics and natural tones

I also use tracks with very little "sound engineering" - I find some Norah Jones or Diana Krall tracks are very good for this 

For sense of space I have two choices that are poles apart
- Classical orchestral tracks with big orchestras
- Bob Marley - Is this love - one of my most favourite tracks ever!

Both of these just melt the walls and extend the image way past my listening environment - uncanny!

Then there is the Pipe Organ - this tends to show up improvements in dynamics and bass control - the venue acoustics also tend to be very good.

Hope that helps with you listening this weekend - Stave :-)

Thanks Steve, I'm going to try your suggestions this weekend and you have a good weekend as well!!

Take out a $250K student loan, ditch the classes and buy the most expensive interconnects you can find. At least it will sound great until the foreclosure is completed

Too old to be a student!

When I was at Wisconsin there was a 92 year old student who had been 
taking courses for 20 years since he sold his farm and retired .
The finally just made him graduate with a degree in philosophy, a subject 
he had over 300 hours in .