Ok, this is not the real world, but if you HAD to audition a rig (for purchase) listening to only one acoustic instrument; what instrument would be your lynchpin? Piano, for me.
Almarg, they are out of print. Looks like they are going used for ~ $80-200.00. It also looks like some of his recordings are being reissued. I will keep an eye open for reissues.
I remember the sales guys in the shops being proud of certain speakers capable of reproducing piano exceptionally well. It's not an attribute one would have to discover on their own. So I think a well informed individual would by necessity choose piano firstly.
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