What selections do you play when showing off your system to others?

I’ve found the best way to show my system off to others is to let them control the queue. While the listener may appreciate analyzing the music you play, they will likely not resonate emotionally with it because they don’t know it very well.

That said, I do have a number of test tracks I use for myself to evaluate performance for customers when they visit, which I also use for myself when I am swapping or repositioning anything in my system.

The list below is just a few of what I would recommend to others. 

S.M.F. - Joe Satriani

Invitation (MFSL Remaster) - Patricia Barber

You Shook Me (2014 Remaster) - Led Zeppelin

Ain’t No Use (2007 Remaster) - Sarah Vaughan

Slow Meadow - Artificial Algorithm

For the Love of a Princess - 2Cellos

Black Magic Woman (MFSL) - Santana

San Andreas Fault (MFSL) - Natalie Merchant

Rooting for You - London Grammar

My Home is in the Delta (AP Remaster) - Muddy Waters

You Are Too Beautiful - John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman

Snegoruchka - Minnesota Orchestra

No Sanctuary - Chris Jones

Blue Rondo a la Turk (AP Remaster) - Dave Brubeck

You Only Live Twice - Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan

The Summer: 3. Presto - Avi Avital

Off the top of my head, any Harmonia Mundi France LP. Lots of banging. Lots of bells & plucked strings. 3d to die for.

Looking for a Home by Keith Greeniger 

I am digital only, and right now my first choice would probably be Cowboy Junkies?Trinity Sessions on my  (I think, Analogue Productions) SACD.

I would also use my MFSL SACDs of Dire Straits self titled or DireStraits/Love Over Gold (particularly the first track). 

I have four different digital pressings of Patricia Barber/Cafe Blue, and I'd probably use one of the two SACDs of that.

The problem with that, however, is that I have found if the listener's taste in music varies from what I've picked out, it is not all that effective of a demonstration.  Steve Earle/Train A Coming used to be what I considered to be some of my best digital, but I remember playing my favorite track for a friend of mine, and he was pretty much disinterested.

Anymore, I'd probably just suggest that someone brought their own stuff over . . . and see how it compared.  The last time I did that, my friend was blown away.  He said something to the effect of:  that he was depressed because we both had the same speakers (B&W 805s) and mine sounded so much better.

I’ve found the best way to show my system off to others is to let them control the queue. While the listener may appreciate analyzing the music you play, they will likely not resonate emotionally with it because they don’t know it very well.

@blisshifi  absolutely.  +1.