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.

128x128jastralfu

I forgot

Cassandra Wilson, Blue Light till Dawn

great distinctive voice, terrific musicians and engineering

I like Roger Waters the Ballad of Bill Hubbard, the dogs barking way off the the right and slightly behind me and the conversation floating in front and out side the left speaker always amazes me.

Traffic, Dear Mr. Fantasy is a great one for me, Steve Winwood’s voice sings almost directly in my right ear and literally makes earlobe tingle.

Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love, a lot of action high above and slightly behind my head.

Dave Brubeck Take 5

Madonna’s Vogue is well done and good to test 3D IMO, not my style, but pretty cool.

Stuart Copeland’s drumming on The Police Zenyatta Mondatta.

Speaker are Kii Audio Three and Steamer is Auralic Aries.

 

Tiger Prowl - Cualli (EDM)

Steamer Lane Breakdown - Doobie Brothers  (acoustic)

Deathamphetamine - Exodus (metal)

Sad But True - Metallica (drums)

I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt (vocals)

Chocolate Chip Trip by Tool. Does some crazy spatial things and lots of panning side to side/ up & down.  I'm not a Tool fan,  but I bought this album. It's quality! 

music I am familiar with and which has a lot of dynamic range. Some of the blu-ray audio recordings on AIX records;  Dark Side of the Moon and others.