I haven't auditioned gear for quite a while, but if I was going to I'd probably use the Cowboy Junkies cover of Sweet Jane off the Analogue Productions SACD. I have a couple of Patricia Barber Cafe Blue SACDs and I'd probably use assorted tracks from one of them.
Songs you use when auditioning gear
What are some of your favorite songs to play when auditioning gear? I often listen to Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. Just about anything off of Gaucho or Aja by Steely Dan or Joni Mitchell’s Hejira or Hissing of Summer Lawns usually gets spun up too. Dreams, in particular, is such a great song and is recorded with the balance I really like as well as a full and wide soundstage. Wondering what some of yours are to see what I’m missing.