Interesting that I never used Clapton or any of the other guitar gods to audition Thiels, even though most of the rock I listen to is from them. For my 2.2s in the shop it was Keith Jarret's solo piano improvisations 'Kőln Concert' for emotion, Grateful Dead's 'Blues for Allah' opening 2 songs for timbre and layering and Karajan's Mahler Symphony #5 for clarity, soundstage, positioning and dynamics. For the 3.5s recently the list was longer, but thankfully the seller also enjoyed my selections. The last was replaced by Bernstein's Mahler #9, and added were Solti's Wagner 'Die Walkűre' disc 3 for bass rumble and vocal clarity, highs and lows and finally John Coltrane 'A Love Supreme' for palpability and shape for lack of a better description. Needless to say the 3.5s nailed them all, aural nirvana and an emotional connection with each. Obviously I left with the 3.5s!
