Which CDs to test a component?

I agree that it is essential to use music you know well. Some of my favorites are K.D. Lang Ingenue, Eric Clapton Unplugged, Toni Braxton and Jerry Lee Lewis. I also agree with Drewfidelity that you must try different kinds of music as to get the full capability of the equipment with different music.

Eric Clapton-Unplugged. On the first track, the percussionist Ray Cooper is hitting a triangle. It should sound clearly like a triangle. This gives me a good impression on the distinctness and clarity of the high range.

Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields-Vivaldi The Four Seasons. On the first track I listen for the harpsichord. It provides a good mid-range and shouldn't get lost in the music.

Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington-The Great Summit, The Master Takes. The first track on this cd is Duke's Place. You have clearly delineated bass, piano, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, drums and of course, Satchmo's voice. On this track I mainly focus on the bass, piano and voice, as well as, the soundstage.

Joe Jackson-Heaven & Hell. Joe Jackson has always produced excellent sounding recordings. Heaven & Hell incorporates rock, classical, opera, and jazz together. It is an amazing accomplishment from someone whom I consider one of the great artists of the eighties. The first two cuts feature a dimensional soundstage and broad dynamic range.

There are a few others, including Pink Martini-Sympathique, Jennifer Warnes-Famous Blue Raincoat, and Narada World-A Global Vision an excellent 2-cd compilation of world beat.

Flim & BBs-Tricycle DMP Gold
Time Warp-Telarc DDD
The Rippingtons-Curves Ahead Grp
Yellow Jackets-Live Wires Grp
Jazz at Pawnshop-Proprius

In the past I have used Pink Floyd's "the Final Cut" and "The Wall" ...However for the past several years I have used only one CD, Ennio Morricone's original sound track from the film "The Mission" I believe This recording offers the most "competitive" range of sounds found on any recording. It may not be the music I Would listen to every day ... but the timing of the mix of instruments by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with the choral performance of London Voices and Barnet Schools Choir, will quickly separate the men from the boys in speakers and equipment.
Try it, with the right audio gear, and It'll make the hair stand up on the back of your neck!
by Catalogwiz

after doin' the usual female/male vocal voice tests ( i recommend "the unaccompanied voice" on the secretly canadian label; fairfield four, "standing in the safety zone"; lyle lovett, "joshua judges ruth"; and, eva cassidy, "live from jazz alley," among many), you should move on to some more complex stuff with which you're familiar. my choices (this week) include: phish, "rift," bands 3&4; radiohead, "kid a"; pink floyd, "the final cut" band 1; mark knopfler, "sailing to philadelphia"; and, the eagles, "hell freezes over." i then move to some "dynamite" tracks as a final test; these include, by way of example: stephen stills, "stills alone," "treetop flyer"; lou reed/john cale, "songs for drella," "open house"; "strike a deep chord: blues guitars for the homeless," "brother can you spare a dime" and "america the beautiful" (dr. john & odetta); the eels (i have this on a cd done by a dutch radio station), "susan's house"; rickie lee jones, "pop, pop," "dat dere"; and, hugh masekela, "hope," "stimela." with the cd's listed, i can listen to any component in any system and judge it within an hour or three. it must again be emphasized these are MY test discs/tracks. you should develop your own, based on YOUR tastes and YOUR listening experiences. moreover, MY choices change from month-to-month and week to-week. -cfb