My system wasn't exactly entry level. I had an Adcom pre, an Aragon 4004 amp and a Best Buy CD player with Polk SDA-1 speakers. Then I added a Krell KRC-3 preamp and that made all the difference. Crosby Stills and Nash, the first album had a song called Gwenivere on it. Crosby and Nash sing a duet. At one point they stop singing and I could hear them patting their feet on the floor. I had never heard that before. So much more detail. It was like I was hearing the songs for the first time! If I'm testing out a new component (among other things) if I can't hear the feet it's a no go. Hope that helps.