What music is best for an Audiophile Society Meeting?


We are auditioning the Piega P10 loudspeakers and a great system including Audio Tekne and Audiomeca at the NY Audiophile Society Meeting on Oct 26th. We have been asked to bring a selection of music with us. What, in the opinions of those who have been to such meetings, would be the best type of music to bring along? A wide selection, a particular outstanding song or CD, or maybe a certain style of music that suits the atmosphere ~ what do you think?
hififarm
Find the most scratched up and dirty LP record you can find and really drive them nuts! One type of music missing from the list so far is electronic. Robert Rich has produced some nice recordings that are audiophile quality and will be a change of pace. Most major record stores carry them (Borders, Tower, Barnes & Noble) You can listen to samples and get a good look at his studio and equipment at his website www.amoeba.com
Barry Manilow.
It will drive them out of the room and you can knick some really nice kit.
Remember to keep the motor running and remove the license plates.
;0)
Greetings Hififarm - is that you, Steve?

Congrats on becoming a Piega dealer!

I'm also involved in the audio club here in New Orleans, and in my experience people get tired of hearing the standard audiophile fare (Diana Krall, etc) all the time. Something new is going to be more interesting, even if it doesn't give them as valid a reference point for making comparisons.

So spice it up with some obscure stuff you like! Here are a few discs I like and have used, though probably will not use again unless requested:

1. Fairfield Four, "Standing in the Safety Zone". Gospel quartet, incredible male vocals. Warner Brothers, 9 26945-2.

2. Amanda McBroom, "Growing up in Hollywood Town". A Sheffield Lab direct-to-disc analog recording, Amanda's vocals on "The Rose" will bring tears to your eyes. She wrote the song, Bette Midler slaughtered it. Sheffield CD-13.

3. Seth Kaufman, "Circling Noon". Superb solo piano recording by an innovative artist (who happens to be a friend). On Cascadilla Records (hard to find), CDLA2365.

4. Berlioz "Symphonie Fantistique", Atuauflo Argenta conducting the Paris Conservatoire Orchestre, recorded in 1957 (on tube gear, of course). Use the 5th movement. London, 452 305-2.

If you can't find the Amanda McBroom, you might try the late Eva Cassidy's "Songbird", on Blix Street Records, G2-10045. The first cut, Sting's "Fields of Gold", will rip you heart out.

Since it's a club meeting, don't be too offended if people want to talk and mill around. Also, there's an excellent chance people will bring things they want to hear, and I always give requests priority over whatever might have been on my agenda.

With speakers like the Piegas, might as well show off how good they sound at low volume too, since many married or apartment-dwelling audiophiles do their serious listening late at night at low volume levels.

Wish I could be there!

Duke