What music do you use to audition equipment/cables

@Moemoney - you're missing the point as well...this isn't difficult guys...!

I was just curious to know which track you use, that's all.

Sorry Infection I should have explained my point. If your asking for tracks that specifically showcase certain aspects like imaging/clarity/dynamics etc thats a different question. When it comes to auditioning gear I am with Roxy, at the end of the day I want a system that allows me to enjoy all the various types of music I listen to especially bad recordings.

I use the same 7 tracks from a burnt CD compilation :

1. Spanish Harlem - Rebecca Pidgeon (Chesky Records CD)

2. Handel - Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba, Scottish Chamber Orchestra (from a 1985 Hi Fi News Demonstration Disc; HFN003)

3. The Bass Walk - Bert Kaempfert (from a special Avantgarde Acoustics demonstration disc called "Nice to Meet You")

4. Goin' Back - Devendra Barnhart (regular CD)

5. Somewhere Down The Crazy River - Robbie Robertson (from the MFSL gold CD)

6. Mercy - Duffy (regular CD)

7. The Garage Door Or The Dynamic Range Of Real Life - Mike Skeet (from a 1985 Hi Fi News Demonstration Disc; HFN003)

All 7 tracks are excellent recordings and I now know intimately how each track sounds on my system. Hence, when I use these tracks for demonstration purposes it is easy for me to say; better, worse or different when comparing equipment. If you have never heard track 7 (Mike Skeet); you need to. This is a great track for making people jump with fright the first time they hear it. Absolutely incredible dynamics, nothing I have ever heard compares to this. Track 3 (Bert Kaempfert) will make you realize just how good some vintage recordings still sound on modern equipment, absolutely glorious.

Marcus

@Chrshanl37 - whenever you receive a new component which piece of music do you use to hear the difference?

Surely that's clear & succinct...

The majority of my listening is to classical music. In doing evaluations, tweaks, adjustments, etc. I generally focus on some of my best sounding recordings, but like Roxy54 I also usually assess a few mediocre to poor sounding recordings, often 1960's rock, pop, or folk.


Following are some of the best sounding recordings, that I use frequently. Unfortunately many are out of print, but may still be findable.

Dvorak "New World Symphony," Horenstein/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chesky CD31 (CD).

Beethoven "Waldstein" Sonata, Paul Badura-Skoda playing an 1815 Hammerflügel, Astree AS73 (LP)

Beethoven, Sonata for Violin and Piano Op. 96, Abel/Steinberg, Wilson Audio W-8315 (LP)

Chopin, Piano Sonata No. 3, Hyperion Knight, Wilson Audio WCD-9129 (CD)

"Images Galantes de la Renaissance," Polyphonia Antiqua, Pierre Verany PV 4791 (LP)

"Danses Anciennes de Hongrie," Clemencic Consort, Harmonia Mundi France HM1003 (LP)


Others that range from excellent to poor sonically but are often useful:

"A Dorian Portrait" (sampler of tracks from the Dorian classical catalog) (DOR 90004) (CD)

Giacomo Puccini, "Greatest Hits," CBS MLK-45809 (especially the arias sung by Dame Kiri te Kanawa) (CD)

"Silver Linings, songs by Jerome Kern," Joan Morris (mezzo-soprano) and William Bolcom (piano), Arabesque Z6515 (CD)

The Seekers, EMI Recordings 1964-1968 (4 CD Set)

"Projections," The Blues Project, Verve Folkways FTS/FT-3008 (LP); also contained in "The Blues Project Anthology," Chronicles/Polydor 31452-9758-2 (2 CD Set)

Regards,
-- Al