I'm in the Chicago suburbs, but somehow the idea of going to somebody's home to listen to their speakers doesn't sound too exciting... Besides, it defeats the purpose of buying something over the internet.
In terms what I've heard -- not much -- I can certainly tell a good speaker from a bad one, but it's not my hobby. Or at least, not yet I know what I would like to hear, though: the sound should be powerful and clean, with deep and tight bass and the speakers should disappear when I close my eyes.
magnepans were lacking the bass, but most importantly, they didn't have any character and and were like a woman faking an orgasm -- they sounds were exactly right, but there was no passion