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Only two tracks to test your system, forever!

If you could only use two tracks/songs for the rest of your life whenever you wanted to test a change to your system, what would they be?

128x128gladmo
gladmo's avatar
gladmo OP
364 posts
 

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.

@passthedutchie People are sharing songs they find well suited to critical listening and testing system changes. I don't think most people are looking for a round of applause and acceptance. Neither are most of us interested in injecting judgementalism into the thread.

jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,620 posts
 

A recording of my son singing and playing guitar is the ultimate test

Bruce Colburn and Rob Wasserman live - any song

 

arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 

not possible

trombonist's avatar
trombonist
28 posts
 

@moonwatcher had a nicely worded response .. describing what makes for a great track ..

Placement, staging, resolution, timbre have become the fine points I etc long to seek out, once deciphered, I can then rest that my standard catalog will sound as good as it can.

But one additional point .. I find that a recording of natural acoustically recorded instruments yields me the best quick analysis of performance.

I have rested on the early Jim Keltner Shefield Drum track .. ( the HDTr transfer is not a great representation of the recording, find an early Sheffield album or disc, the early work is amazingly different in heft attack, and dynamics) ..

and 2) if so blessed to find the early produced test disc by Opus 3 Test Disc 1 (track 1) "Tiden Bara Gar" has female voice. Both discs feature winsomely instruments placed for depth, sonic placement, and resolution. The Opus One features a few other choice cuts on there that are amazingly resolving due to the care in capturing the original recording.

Thanks to the contributors for the many cut suggestions .. am anxious to explore many of these!

krgottschalk
17 posts
 

Sara Barielles - Gravity from Live at Variety Playhouse

Phil Collins - Don’t Care Anymore (incredible drums that really show sound stage)

More to discover