Most people hear the difference, those that dont never will. Play music you love. Hearing classical, jazz, or bluegrass on a really good system can open up a whole new world of music for someone who has never heard them live. As for output level, I think a lot of people use the Volume knob trying to compensate for shortcomings in the system. When "somethings missing" in the music, turn it up! Some kinds of music are meant to be cranked, but others can be just as involving at lower levels. That Lyle Lovett track will show off your system and I was at one time addicted to "Wheels on Gravel Road", both worth having for the song writing alone. Just to get someones attention I sometimes start out with "Funupmanship"by Bob Florence. A live jazz recording that starts out like background music and suddenly wakes the dead with two horn blasts, adjust volume first! Dynamics impress, but you still have to play music you love.
Impress Your Friends and Seduce Women!
I seem to have lost a very interesting thread on how to best demonstrate to laymen why we spend tens of thousands of dollars on equipment and tolerate garden hosed sized wires sprawling across Persian carpets. Has anyone thought more about this topic? A gospel (?) track with chorus sounded very nice -- sonic fireworks with musical integrity is what is required. Only audiophiles listen to Mannheim Steamroller and the Fresh Air series. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.