Which Albums do you use for reference Listening ?


Which Albums do you use for reference Listening ? Which records are the Tour De Force Records you favor to get things opened up and stretched to the outer limits of what sounds good to YOU

I just installed a New Vintage Empire EDR.9 MM Cartridge. I guess MM's don't have break in time because this sounds so fine right oughta the box !

These albums are some of my favorites that can demonstrate my systems strengths and weaknesses, music that covers the whole frequency spectrum.

I.E ultra low frequencies Organ , Low frequency Cello, Baritone Sax Mid Frequencies etc. etc up to triangles, brushes and sopranno's gone wild

Some of these records do not isolate frequencies but make an the system components go through the full gamut all at once, from the top to bottom, over, under, and sideways down.

Ok this is my Bakers Dozen selections

1812 Overture *
Led Zeppilin II *
Captain Beefheart-Clearspot *
Side 2 - Abbey Road *
Pet Sounds-The Beach Boys *
Issac Hayes-Hot Buttered Soul
Herbi Mann - Push Push
Amsterdam Guitar Quartet- The Four Seasons
Elvis Costello-Imperial Bedroom *
Art Blakey-A Night at Birdland Vol 1 *
Aretha Franklin-Amazing Grace
Arthur Rubenstein - Chopin Collection
Bobby Soxx & the Blue Jeans -
Christmas Baby Please Come Home MONO *
Husker Du-Zen Arcade

It's nice that at least a few of the titles are still in print on wax or easily available.

You should be able to still buy these* without too much trouble.

Best Regards &
Merry Christmas

Groovey Records

Listening to The Phil Spector Christmas Album

Back To Mono !
just kidding;.)
128x128groovey
David Benoit - Every Step of the Way
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat
Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles
Roger Waters "Amused to Death" - great for testing bass response. This album has it all, low bass, explosions, PP Arnolds excellent vocals, Jeff Beck's awesome guitar, and Q sound.
Supertramp "Crime of the Century" for resolution
Emerson Lake and Palmer's first album for dynamics, bass extension (church organ) and noise floor
Mott the Hoople "Brain Capers" for rhythm and timing
Halle Orchestra/cond Handford Carmina Burana (Orff) on EMI for tonality
Well, I have far to many but heres a few. I will third Famous Blue raincoat! 2.Sheffield track record lab 20. 3.Sheffield lab 4. Thelma Houston. 5.Codona ECM 1132 unbelievable lp and a must have! with Don Cherry, 6.Intensive care -discwasher recordings Japan, 7.Authur Fiedler Capriccio Italien-Crystal Clear records Direct to Disc, 8.Aaron Copland-analogue Productions limited edition 180g vinyl Earl Wild on piano, 9.Mendelssohn 17 songs without words/walter Giesking/piano japanese emi, 10.This is a true must have YELLO-Flag lp, 11.Getz/Gilberto MFSL 208, 12.Lincoln Mayorga v 3 Lab 1 Sheffield Lab, 13.Stevie Ray Vaughan Texas Flood (Cool lp!) 14.Emmylou Harris MFSL 015. What ever you do get yourself some Yello sit back and enjoy the trip! Cheers Daren
lately i've been bowled over by the few 12" 45s that i have from groove note and classic (extra track on the kind of blue reissue, kei akagi, jay mcshann, duke robillard & herb ellis). i also stumbled across a mono 1s/1s unplayed copy of the heifetz sibelius violin concerto that will undoubtedly get pulled out with any major system changes/upgrades. i guess beatles red monos make the list too. oh, and side 1 of the DCC elton john madman across the water. lots more i'm sure. i love this hobby!