I like Blueswan's suggestions.
The only thing I would add is whether or not the system makes your feet tap. This is the coup de grace for me.
Sometimes you can get caught up being too structured in listening. You may satisfy your conscious mind, but music must also speak to your subconscious.
The first thing I do when auditioning equipment is read a magazine while listening to one of my favorite CDs. Significant differences will still catch your attention, but reading a magazine will distract you from hyper analyzing things. If you focus too much, sometimes you end up hearing things you want or expect to hear. It's human nature.
Of course, this is also a great way to test the "toe tap" philosophy. If you're tapping your toes while reading the magazine, odds are the system is doing something right.
I've screened out alot of expensive equipment with that simple first test. If I didn't notice a significant difference or it didn't make my feet tap, it went back to the store.
The only thing I would add is whether or not the system makes your feet tap. This is the coup de grace for me.
Sometimes you can get caught up being too structured in listening. You may satisfy your conscious mind, but music must also speak to your subconscious.
The first thing I do when auditioning equipment is read a magazine while listening to one of my favorite CDs. Significant differences will still catch your attention, but reading a magazine will distract you from hyper analyzing things. If you focus too much, sometimes you end up hearing things you want or expect to hear. It's human nature.
Of course, this is also a great way to test the "toe tap" philosophy. If you're tapping your toes while reading the magazine, odds are the system is doing something right.
I've screened out alot of expensive equipment with that simple first test. If I didn't notice a significant difference or it didn't make my feet tap, it went back to the store.