Most demanding passages for a turntable & system

I have a couple of Digital Mastered records from around 1980 like the Telarc 1812 Overture that I enjoy; but my analog hifi buddies in the 80s turned their noses up at these digital renderings. Especially when their tonearms skate across the record during the canon fire. (Nothing a penny couldn't fix :0) )

The Telarc recordings from that time pushed the bubble in terms of dynamic range as a means of demonstrating what digital was capable of during its nascent phase in home audio. Unfortunately few tables were able to track the recordings effectively as mentioned. As the digital age progressed things were toned back down on most mas market vinyl accordingly. Not much market beyond audiophiles for recordings that nobody could play. Of course CDs and the gear needed to play those to best effect is another story....

Joni's Court & Spark always makes my wife come in and sit down with me too.

What is it about wives and this record? Mine does the same, but only with this one!

Mapman, your link is to a CD. No wonder few turntables can track it without audible problems! ;-)

Dear Jsd52756: Most demanding for a TT&system?

well there are some tracks that are really demanding ones that are a challenge for any audio system.

Telarc 1812 Overture is probably the most demanding one and IMHO it's demanding all over the frequency range and very especial to test the system bass management.

Other extreme LP test is the 45 rpm RR Dafos on side two. As with the Telarc one this Dafos is a challenge over the whole frequency range and yes a hard challenge to evaluate the system bass mangement.

I agree too with Tonywinsc about the DD 45rpm RCA Appasionata and the Peterayer advise on the Sheffiel Drum one. Both are excelents tests.

Here we can see some of the LPs I mentioned and other we can use it:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/rv/s/f/1313605551.jpg

The DD Flamenco Fever is great for test and great to listen it and all in this picture are great tests:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/rv/s/f/1280353318.jpg

Winds for War and Peace is a recording made by Wilson and an extraordynary test LP too. The one at the right medium column here:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/rv/s/f/1267979105.jpg

Michael Ruff by Sheffield Records and Midnight Sugar by Three Blind Mice are good ones too:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/rv/s/f/1274997607.jpg

Te UHQ Mobile Fidelity of Pines of Rome is really good as is Panaraima ( the third one on the first row ), here:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/rv/s/f/1313605550.jpg

Of course the one mentioned Mapman Telarc Firebird as two other Firebird: the one by Sheffield Records and of course the one by Mercury.

Now, on each one of those LPs we really can detect and be aware of system problems starting with the cartridge tracking abilities.

Some one mentioned Test torture test made by Shure and exist several other by other companies. IMHO those " torture tests " could say/means almost nothing, I prefer real recorded music and not only test tones or the like.

Now, an important issue is that when using those music LP tests: against what ( reference ) are we comparing the system quality performance level? and what are we looking for on each one?

Regards and enjoy the music,

R.

Dear Tonywinsc: Which cartridges were used in the Telarc 1812 w/o that penny?

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.