The "Love Over Gold" album by Dire Straits is a fantastic choice to show off the bottom end and upper dynamics of your system -- especially the song "Private Investigations". The nylon classical strings that Knopfler uses on this song will sound absolutely sublime on a high end system or horn speakers. When I demo this song to friends, I can't wait for the 2:58 part of the song -- Knopfler shuffles his feet on a hardwood floor that has sand on it, he finishes a little flamenco-style guitar run and then the drummer starts a hi-hat countdown. The crispness is hard to describe in writing...you just have to hear it. The bass guitar starts its slow beat and then eruptions from the strings section. Easily one of the best recorded and mixed albums of the 1980's. "Telegraph Road" is another great song along with "Love Over Gold".
Another album I use is a Japanese pressing of "Animals" by Pink Floyd. A system with great detail will pick up so many little things on the song "Dogs". I think I pick up something new every time I play the song.
