You know Naim kit is harsh when the sales rep turns it down slightly 3 times during a demo of their top of the range set up because the audience are all gritting their teeth and frowning with pain because of how sharp it is.

A good system will egg you on to get louder and louder and louder and it is only when you step out of the room and realise just how loud it is do you run back in and crank it down 20db.
I can play the Meridian at 0db and my wife says nothing, all my other systems have had her giving me 'that look' at around -10db!

No Darling, I've had it months!