Best CD

Well, the first thing I do is ask guests what they like and try to accomodate their tastes. Nothing more boring for a guest than to have to listen to music that they neither understand nor enjoy just so you can 'show off' your system.

Most of my favorite classical recordings (not necessarily performances of music) will appear on Hyperion, Dorian, Chandos, Harmonia Mundi, Reference Research, Mercury Living Presence, Telarc, Delos, and Dorian.

Most of my favorite Jazz recordings (same caveat as above) will appear on Verve, Blue Note, and Concord Jazz.

Now, if you want some specific recommendations of specific recordings coupled with performances, perhaps you could narrow your inquiry to genre.

Re Shadorne's recommendation - Yep, that is a good one, but if your speakers are up to it, and your listeners are going to be impressed by 'big sound' get something with an organ substituting for a piano, playing the original version of Mussorgsky's Pictures on the Dorian label. That will shake the timbers! :-)