2. music
  3. 170246-166561

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
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
It's not so much particular music you are looking for, it's WELL-RECORDED music.  Some is good some is bad, some is excellent even in CD format.

If you want to evaluate a system see out only excellent recordings, whatever the music.
They are much better to listen to as well and can make lesser systems sound greater.

So...choosing only well-recorded music saves you money on upgrading your system.  Which will still sound poor with poor recordings.  Silk purses, sow's ears and all that.
knotscott
806 posts
 
Sad Old Red - Simply Red
Tom's Diner - Suzanne Vega
Thinkin' About Your Body - Bobby McFerrin
bcool57
24 posts
 
I would agree with the anything by Steely Dan. They use a wide variety of instruments. An old song but Do You Know What I Mean by Lee Michael’s. And for good guitar licks, the band America.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,434 posts
 
More

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. 


More to discover