What are your go to LP's for evaluating new gear or new tubes?

@billpete 

I took a vinyl copy of the Telarc 1812 when I auditioned the Holbo turntable!  Almost all my vinyl pre-dates CDs, and I have a few dbx companded records which I can no longer play because my dbx capable player got stolen, together with everything else just before I did a round-world business trip.  I listened to Quad speakers in LA and Salt Lake City, then visited Peter Walker of Quad in the UK who told me he thought classical CDs were brilliant.  I bought Quad pre-amp, amp and ESL 63 speakers in the UK and an early Philips CD player in Singapore, plus every CD that I could find.  I went through Australian customs with the amp in my suitcase, the pre-amp in my briefcase and declared the CD player.  The customs officer invited his mates over, and as they opened the box, about 50 CDs fell out.  It was the first CD player they had seen.  No worries, mate, enjoy!

I had to ship the speakers, and there was plenty of weight available, so my dad gave me his old Garrard 301 which I have just started to restore, hence I am buying selected vinyl again.  (Wollongong City Library had a huge selection of classical records which they lent for free so not much need to buy any in my good old days).

There is one Decca (London?) vinyl recording which I would use for auditioning, if I could get one at a reasonable price.  It is Benjamin Britten's recording of his Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra which dates back to Decca's heyday around 1963.  It has never been out of the catalog, at least in its digital form.  Under 20 minutes long, it covers every instrumental section, until subsiding to almost inaudible triangle tickles then rising to a crescendo of complex cross rhythms.  A serious critic has said it is his favourite piece of classical music, to boot!  It is the only piece of music I needed to play when considering purchasing my KEF Reference 1 speakers - my dealer had it already queued up on his streamer!

@billpete 

The latest Stuart and Sons 108-note concert grand piano also hits a very low 16-Hz - see Audiogon Discussion Forum on pianos!

As far as I know, there is no technical reason why CDs should not go very subsonic - close to 0-Hz.

You could try Elend -The Umbersun- CD. Bloody hell. Neoclassical. I don't quite remember if that recording is good but the music is..unusual. I haven't listened to it for some years.

Just don't call me names, it's not everyone's taste.

Also, symphonic music conducted by Herbert von Karajan.

@richardbrand 

Great story. You must have been the talk of every airport you went through. :) Quite a trip.

Doubt I'll find the Benjamin Britten LP in my collection but you never know. I still have my father in law's collection to look through. I gleaned the important stuff on first glance "The Crepitation Contest", can be enjoyed on even the most modest of systems. :) He actually had a fair amount of mostly classical, maybe 200-300 or so. Still boxed up from moving to Missouri 12 years ago. 

I've taken notice of KEF Reference speakers as they have about the same range as my AR9's. Being newer, they are likely to do it better but I don't know. I did a search to find full range speakers that matched or exceeded the original Teledyne AR9's. It's a small crowd and the prices usually range from slightly above 10k to 300k. Out of my league. KEF 107 and R107's can be had (used) for less than 2k. They might be a consideration if I ever decide to move from the AR's. They are now on my radar. There is a pair on ebay right now that I would have to think about if I hadn't already spent so much in the last month or two............and I'd like my wife to stay. :)

I have to research this exotic piano. 108 keys? I've never heard of such a thing. Not doubting you, I'm just surprised to hear of such a thing. I had a square grand that only had 66 keys. It was very ornate but sonically not so good. I used to sit across from a Steinway concert grand every Sunday when I was a kid. My dad played the pipe organ and a woman played the Steinway. They were both very good and I'll never forget the sound of either. 

I also lived in my grandfather's farmhouse with my wife after we were first married, mid 70's. He had a self contained pipe organ in the house, also an upright piano that he hand built. I didn't play well but played some. I wish I'd taken it more seriously when I was a kid. Hated piano lessons because of the childish crap we had to play. I wanted to play classical music. Too short sighted to learn the basics. 

@inna 

I will check on that. I'll try most anything once. Cd's can usually be found for just a few bucks. I will not call you names. :)

I have several Von Karajan recordings. Most are on good labels. Haven't started listening to them yet but I'll get to it. Thanks for the suggestions.