We've all done it. We upgrade our A/V system and want to really give it a workout. On goes the "1812 Overture" with the volume cranked to eleven. As a test, that's fine — but how much artillery music do you normally listen to? There's a lot of great classical music out there that will demand the most from your A/V system, and reward you with hours of enjoyable listening in the process.

To follow are some suggestions to check out. It's not a list of the ten best recordings of all time, nor the ten best composers, nor the ten best anything — just ten recordings that are worth checking out because:

1. They're well recorded, and will sound really good on your system.
2. The music's accessible and worth listening to even if you're not into classical music.
3. The music's well composed and worth listening to even if you are into classical music.

These ten releases represent a variety of performers, labels, musical styles and ensembles. Chances are you'll find something to like in our selection. Explore — and enjoy!

Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountains
Symphony No. 2, Mysterious Mountain; Symphony No. 66, Hymn to Glacier Peak; Symphony No. 50, Mount St. Helens; Storm on Mount Wildcat
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, conductor
(Telarc SACD-60604)
Alan Hovhaness constantly drew inspiration from mountains, writing gentle music that was both monolithic and mystical. "Symphony No. 2, Mysterious Mountain" is the most famous, and lays out the style Hovhaness' other symphonies follow. Lush string harmonies move from beautiful chord to beautiful chord at a leisurely pace; solo lines soar with poignancy. There's a hymn-like quality to Hovhaness' music. His symphonies are not about drama, but rather spirituality.

Conductor Gerard Schwarz has long championed this prolific American composer's music, and uses the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's luxuriant sound to really do these works justice. The Telarc label has always been at the forefront of recording technology, as this audiophile-quality release attests. The CD version of Mysterious Mountains will envelop you with its warm, natural sound. The 6-channel SACD mix, though, pulls you into the center of Hovhaness' mystical soundscape.

Recommended especially for fans of orchestral film scores.