FWIW my idea of a "proper stereo" would consist of something like a Cyrus CD-T Signature Transport, DAC-XP Signature DAC / Pre-Amp and two Cyrus X300 Signature power amps, pretty much what I had back in the UK last time around. I am, however, thinking about Primare kit, probably an A32 pre-amp with the digital media board, and at least one A34.2 power amp.
I'm not into BestBuy quality stereo!
On the subject of the Heresy vs Cornwall choice, people on a UK board have also said the Heresys are a bit light in the bass department. Now, I'm not looking for ghetto $5000 subwoofer shaking my $500 Corolla to bits levels of bass, but I would like something capable of providing decent, dynamic, oomph to the music. I'll have two Klipsch PSW110 subs hooked up to the receiver, might be able to chain those to the power amp(s) instead.
my "got-to" CD for testing stereo is Kate Bush's wonderful "The Red Shoes", possibly Paul Simon's "Graceland". Both a bit old, I know, but albums produced (IMHO) to the best standards possible, and ones that are complex enough to trip up any poor sounding kit. If a stereo can reproduce all the detail in Kate's "Eat the Music", with punchy not wallowy bass, and reproduce the bass crescendo in "The Buildings of New York", or the drums in "The Obvious Child" I'm sold.
Any more thoughts?