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Something for Everyone in Super High Fidelity

Like a missionary in the jungle, I continue to practice my usual high end evangelism with non audiophile friends, rarely finding the eager disciple.

Despite warnings of this peculiar audiophile habit in many other threads, I must admit I am often tempted to play something that sounds good, only to be reminded that music which people don't like (not to mention straight percussion or steam trains) probably wont inspire them to upgrade their stereo system.

On the other hand, we all know that deferring to a friends musical taste for a demo will immediately locate the screechiest, worst sounding recording in your collection.

Bearing this in mind (and maybe some of you have already done this) 1) what COLLECTION of well recorded tracks, 2) across genres of music, would you 3) put on a compliation CD or "rip" into WAV files to accomodate the widest musical tastes of future audiophiles?

Some classical? Jazz? Rock? Soundtracks?

Each of these genres have been discussed in other threads, but what tracks would you include to capture the widest possible audience as an audio missionary?

Thanks for ideas.
cwlondon
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,685 posts
 
Sorry all. It is one of my pet peeves and it doesn't take much to set me off on it.

Kal
siliab
362 posts
 
My experience suggests that it is easiest to demonstrate the greater emotional pull of recorded music rendered on a superior playback system if the person already loves the music they will be hearing. To that end I always suggest that visitors bring their favorites to listening sessions. I haven't seen anyone unaffected by hearing their favorite music played back staggeringly well. The effect is automatic, like the shock of recognition. On the other hand, I've never seen a non-music lover all that impressed by great audio, regardless of what you play them.

But your point is well taken, and from years of experience I've found that most music loving audio neophytes are most impressed by relatively simple, highly melodic music with a lot of vocal content. For instance, the work of Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, and, yes, Jack Johnson are all good candidates. This may have something to do with the fact that the human voice is the one that people have the most immediately available reference to.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
I see now why Kr4 was right, just maybe the way he made his point wasnt as ideal as it could be. Specific Classical disc's with spectacular performance and dynamics need to be noted. BTW Telarcs "Time Warp" is both fun and sounds great, and the music from Star Wars and other popular themes is sure to be tolerated by non Classical folk.
hens
173 posts
 
If it helps then:

Vivaldi's The Four Seasons; Nevelle Marriner, Academy of St Martin in the Field; 2000 (Decca)

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture; Neeme Jarvi; Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra; 1992 (Deutsche Grammophon)

Orff's Carmina Burana; James Levine; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; 1990 (Deutsche Grammophon)

By no means do I consider myself even close to an expert when it comes to classical performances, but I rate the recording quality of the above quite highly.
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