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Top 3 songs to evaluate a system

Hi everyone,

So here is the question: what are your Top 3 music pieces to evaluate a system?

The songs should be complementary to cover a wider range of features, but not necessary. If you only listen to one type of music, it would make sense to only evaluate with this type.

Bonus: identify one good part of the piece where you pay extra attention because this is where the difference between systems is more visible.

I'll start:

Holly Cole Trio - Girl Talk - My Baby Just Cares For Me
Highlight: The vibrating cord at 1:59

MaMuse - All The Way - Glorious
Highlight - The clean guitar and the high drum beat that rythm the whole piece

Metallica - ... And Justice for All (Remastered) - One
Highlight - The first drums at 0:53, but the whole guitar as well


Doing this myself, I realize it's very hard to only pick 3!!

papyneau
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,776 posts
 
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Zappa / Joe’s Garage / Little Green Rosetta.
Great for soundstage, layering, inner detail, color of voices.

Joan Baez / Diamonds and Rust / title track.
Crystal clear recording with fast transients.

Suzanne Vega / Solitude Standing / Calypso.
Clear recording, delicacy, close mic vocals, air, space, speed.
ross6860's avatar
ross6860
103 posts
 
Listening for soundstage and detail retrieval I use music I know inside and out.

Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love -  Fantastic 3D soundstage.  It will wrap completely around you, 360° if the system is capable.

Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath/Fat Man -There's a definite "buzz" after bass note hits on Locomotive Breath.  After Fat Man ends there'e a "hunphhh" from Ian Anderson.   If these are easily discernible, the system is pulling out some detail.

TELARC - 1812 Overture -  What can I say?  First you have to keep the needle in the groove if it's on vinyl.

Honorable Mentions: About anything by Pink Floyd, E. Power Briggs, Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, or any well recorded aorchestral pieces. 


jcwilson
24 posts
 
Steely Dan. Aja. Black Cow. For layers and bass

Joni Mitchell. Court and Spark. Free Man in Paris. For layers, female vocals and acoustic guitar in a mix. 

Nick Drake. Pink Moon. Free Ride. Pure acoustic goodness. 


hoosierinohio
162 posts
 
This is my quick list:
David Byrne Lazy - it will test what you are looking at more than anything I know of.  The highs and the lows.  Be sure and put the volume to 11. 

Peter Gabriel - Blood of Eden, there is a bass note that not everything can hit. 

Beach Boys - Our Prayer / Gee pure vocal and total mid-range push.  It should really "sing" on a great system. 

Dave Brubeck - Take Five - you have to listen to some piano and how well that is reproduced.  Also do all the instruments represent or does one sound overpowering to the rest. 
robshaw
244 posts
 
A lot of GREAT SONGS and choices: not necessarily in this order:
Elton John: Funeral for a friendMetallica; Nothing else matters/Fade to BlackAC/DC  Thunderstruck
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