Which CDs to test a component?

I agree with Chelillingworth I always use things that are famaliar to me, ie things I have been listening to lately. I tend to use male and female vocals, we hear them all day long and any inaccuracy is easily heard, nothing is more ear piercing then a shreeking female vocal that shouldn't sound bad. Always real piano recordings, they sound much better then digital/electric piano's(preferably a steinway), listen for the real sound of the piano, make sure it sounds linear at all frequencies. The ultimate test is if it(a piece of music) gets your foot tapping at home, it should to the same to what ever your listening to, or keep moving.

As others have already mentioned it is important to use CDs that you are very familiar with. A great piece of advise that someone gave me was to listen to each CD that you bring with you to the audio store right before you leave your house so that you can have some idea of how it sounds in your system. As always, attempt to have a setup that includes as many of the components that you have at home.

Unlike many of us, I think that it is important to test components with great and poorly recorded material. It is not hard for a component to sound good when it is given quality recordings. The majority of music is not well recorded and that does not stop us from listening to it, well it does not stop most of us from listening to it. It is also important, IMHO, to bring along different kinds of music. Rock, jazz, folk, and classical are always part of my music mix when auditioning equipment.

dire straits"private investigations" off love over gold

All good points above and I agree re using music that you know and like. Some for me are:
1. I agree with Trelja on L. Williams "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road"-- quite a diversity of music on this CD.
2. A Cliche' I know, but Jennifer Warnes "Famous Blue Raincoat" is still excellent, especially for vocals.
3. Enigma "Cross of Changes"-- complex music.
4. Loreena McKennitt "Book of Secrets", vocals and bass.
5. Melissa Ethridge "Brave and Crazy", because I know the music so well.
6. G. Thorogod "The Anthology", for Pace, Rhythm, and Timing.
7. Cowboy Junkies "The Caution Horses" for low level vocal and instruments.
8. Many others would do, as I have lots of favorites. Cheers. Craig

I recommend using Benny Green's "Testifying", track number 8 - "Down By the Riverside." I used this cd at CES 2002 to test many speaker systems and I received many favorable comments from exhibitors (many exhibtors wanted to buy this cd, even Jeff Joseph from Joseph Audio went out to buy this cd the same day he heard it). Let me tell you, Track 8 has many dynamic swings that test speaker systems to separate the "men from the boys!"