What Are Your Reference Discs? or Specific Reference Tracks

I'm with MC on this one.   
Allow an explanation:

I have a music system not a "HiFi."  
Any guests can pick music that they like, everyone's tastes are different.
There IS no better "demo" than hearing music that one knows and loves.
If I want to show off something unique Ican play some 4 channel tapes.
Since they are one offs it serves no purpose to list tracks here.

I tend to listen to something that I know well, because I play it a little more often and dig it.

As I like to travel, pretty much all over, if I can hear a system here and there, I'll make an effort. Sometimes that which I know well isn't available to listen to, I do think generally you can get an idea of timbre, cabinet resonance, breakout, and some idea of the driver interaction and integration.

@emrofsemanon - please use paragraphs sir?
You did say a fair bit. I did try to read it all, as you had some good points, but it was a chore only because there was no space to reference where I was.

I'm not trying to disrespect you sir, I figure if you're going to the effort to share well thought out information, the more legible the more Agoners will read it through.

The notion that there are no "test tracks" in audio is ludicrous.

Ever test drive a car? Of course. Why? Various reasons.
To test limits.
To test special circumstances.
To test normal driving conditions.
Etc.

Test tracks can be ear candy and test limits.
Test tracks can be normal stuff and that gives information, too.
Test tracks can be badly recorded or old compressed stuff.

One can pay close attention, or just listen relaxedly, or even pay oblique attention. One can even go out of the room and see how it sounds out there. (Ever get drawn into a room from the hallway at an audio show? Something brought you inside even though you were far from the sweet spot. What was that? That’s relevant, too.)

The argument against test tracks needs to be understood for what it typically (and inexplicitly) is - an argument against a track which isn’t comprehensively representative of the various kinds of music which could/will be played or the various ways we could/will listen to it.

It’s merely good scientific method to reject the pretense that a test can pretend to be more than what it is. But that doesn’t mean such tests don’t have any value -- only that their value needs to be specified in a proportionate way relative to the overall experimental question.

And as for "Year of the Cat" well that track is just fine. It’s just that MC testifies here against needing test tracks and elsewhere he mentions Year of the Cat multiple times. Kinda funny.

You are able to evaluate using only certain tracks? Fascinating!
- millercarbon

Rather than list tracks, I'd refer you to this video and comment:

"If you want to learn to evaluate sound equipment, the most important factor to start with is being comfortable with your stereo. Just take many hours, listening to a variety of music you like.

Do not use a limited number of records because they sound so good. That’s ear candy, used in every hifi demo room all over the world.

Simple jazz combo’s making impressive music will be impressive on a broad variety of equipment. That’s why on hifi shows you hear them in every room.

Pop and rock know their ear candy as well: Dire Straits, Kari Bremnes, Diana Krall and so on. Nothing wrong with the music by the way but it’s not too difficult to reproduce properly.

There is no need to play classical music if you don’t enjoy it but playing acoustically recorded performances might be a good idea. Think of folk music, Fado, flamenco and so on.

Again vary in genre for each genre will use its own difficult instruments.

Visiting shows and listening to all kinds of setups at that show can be very instructive if you are allowed to listen to music of your choice - and thus no ear candy."

https://youtu.be/lkgRzLygNrU
- hilde45

Pretty sure that is exactly what I said. ;)
- millercarbon

MC - It may have been heavily encoded in your first response mate, but I suspect what you said in your head, didn't make it to the keyboard brother!

I'm in a cheeky mood, but I'm going to call bovine excrement, and openly invite the same when I write such things; when, not if - I know I do it too. Have a great weekend, report ultrasonics please?

@wweis - Roxy Music, Bryan is a legend singer. One of my favs is Sonnet 18, it really shows off his excellent vibrato, accompanied by violin and piano only.

With Miller and Fuzztone. 

Focus on the basic / fundamental elements of music and instruments and how the whole comes together. 

Any music, any track serves the purpose, including music / tracks not heard prior to.