What are some good recordings to test depth/layers?The Wand of Youth on EMI. Play the track with the Tame Bears and the Wild Bears.
Any Decca or British RCA recording with Kenneth Wilkenson as the recording engineer.
Most of the early RCA Living Stereos or Mercury Living Presence have plenty of depth. Basically a good hall and a 2 or 3 mic recording technique will do the job. Spotlight mics almost always ruin depth. For the most part on this account, unless told otherwise stay away from Deutsche Grammaphone (although they do have good pressings and performances).