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Best recordings to demonstrate soundstage?

I am interested in imaging and soundstage. I have picked up a pair of Thiel 3.6's and would like to test their imaging potential.

Box speakers are something of a problem for me because for some years I have listened to large planars, which throw up a huge soundstage. The Thiels have a much more constrained soundstage as compared to planars, yet they can seem wide and accurate and at times. With the right recordings they are absolutely amazing.

Hooverphonic and Morcheeba are 2 bands that I tend to use. Within their music there is so much going on. Sounds flying left and right, beautiful vocals centered, with layered vocals surrounding.

Can you help me increase my list? I love all kinds of music period. In your experience what is the best music and or tracks for highlighting soundstage?

Thank you,

Ron
starsandseas
starsandseas OP
37 posts
 
Thank you for the ideas. I don't have any of those recordings but will try to get them. The closest I have is Division Bell by Pink Floyd minus Roger Waters...

I agree, there is nothing wrong with box speakers, they have a different sound than what I am used to though. I was striving to find a speaker that was more precice than my planars. The Thiels are very precice. Now I've got to take a new look at the recordings I use to judge soundstage.

I was just listening to Charity of the Night by Bruce Cockburn and found it quite nice.

Thank you,
Ron
mingles
796 posts
 
cds:
Mickey Hart, Planet Drum, 1991 Rykodisk (RCD 10206)
Mickey Hart, At the Edge, 1990 Rykodisk (RCD 10124)
Greg Brown, Covenant, 2000, Red House Records (RHR CD 148)
Ry Cooder, Paris, Texas Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1985, Warner Brothers (9 25270-2)
Mazzy Star, Among My Swan, Capitol Records (CDP7243 8 27224 27)
Manu Dibango, Wakafrika, 1994 Giant Records (9 24566-2)
Paco de Lucia, Siroco, 1987, Verve (830 913-2)
Animatrix 2003

lp's:
An Evening with Windham Hill Live, 1982 Windham Hill (WH-1026)
Michael Hedges, Aerial Boundaries, 1984 Windham Hill (WH-1032)
Hiroshima, 1979, Arista (AB 4252)
jswarncke
66 posts
 
John Mellencamp - Whenever We Wanted
Tears for Fears - Raoul and the Kings of Spain
Shelby Lynn - I am
Sting - Soul Cages
Seal - Human Beings
Paul Lusson trio playing the Satie Gymonopidie
starsandseas OP
37 posts
 
Wow, thank you all. Many of these I know only by name. I'm heading over to Fry's and will look them up and report back.

Paco De Lucia - I was just listening to his cd Castro Marin last night. Quite nicely recorded with plenty of dynamics but also very nuanced.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Don Dixon loves to play with staging/imaging effects on his records. These are not audiophile quality recordings - tonal balance is splashy on top and pumped up in the bass - but they are great rock music recorded with great impact. Look for any recording with his cover of "Cool" from Westside Story. It should do the trick.

Marty
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