Only two tracks to test your system, forever!

This thread for me confirms easily the worst thing about audiophiles: their taste in music. Of course the answers are going to be middle-of-the-road audiophile-approved pap like Patricia Barber and Diana Krall. And yes, let's not forget Flight of the Snoring Hippo and the Eagles' live version of Hotel California (now in quadrilliophenia on a special pixiedust-infused disc so you can buy the precious recording for the twelfth time).

Your 20-year-old self would hate what you've become. Tell me I'm wrong.

John Coltrane - Blue Train

Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue

The last two movements of the Saint Saens Symphony 3 - Charles Munch/BSO RCA Living Stereo CD. A great test of dynamic range/bass power!

Live FM radio broadcasts on WCRB of the Boston Symphony Orchestra are my make-it-or-break-it test.

It’s the raison d'être of the system and all else follows.

By a welcome gift of fate, a few years ago they relocated their broadcast tower to six miles away and I have a fine tuner.

The way they mike the orchestra, you can hear every little thing right in its place, and the whole room.

As for test tracks, I’m so used to playing dozens that to narrow it down to just two…

You’ve got me thinking and it’s going to take a while.

@prndlus 

Live FM radio broadcasts on WCRB of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 

I have heard some of the broadcasts on their stream, and yes, they do sound absolutely amazing. My guess is the BSO employs someone to mix sound for them, and WCRB takes a feed from it (although it's very possible it's a special mix just for radio). Either way, the method of getting that audio back to mission control (WGBH/WCRB) is top notch. There isn't much if any cascading bit reduction taking place. To the crew making this happen - GREAT JOB!