Best recordings to demonstrate soundstage?

Herbie Hancock/Watermelon Man, released on Sony/Columbia Jazz compilation CD is a great test track for soundstage precision. It's a great test track in many other aspects too and oddly - a fine piece to listen.
For ambience space try Judy Collins spectacular vocal-only Amazing Grace on the Whales and Nightingales CD.

I have a number of the recommended recordings, but I don't understand how studio recordings could demonstrate soundstage. Studio recordings have no real soundstage. If there is any, it's only an artificially simulated one. Tried the DiBango—great music, nothing special with the soundstage. Tried the Micky Hart—better for soundstage, good depth, but still nothing special. Put on Sting's Soul Cages. The soundstage is amazingly wide and consistently several feet beyond the speakers. Sometimes it even sounds like 5.1. The engineering is spectacular. What's going on?

Well, in the liner notes there is a reference to QSound, a virtual surround process that explains the amazing soundstage effects.

Go to: http://www.qsound.com

Other artists' recordings using QSound: http://www.qsound.com/spotlight/users/recording-artists.htm

Still, the best recommendation for demonstrating a real soundstage, rather than simulated, would be simply engineered orchestral music. Reference Recordings are a excellent label. There are others, but it's hit & miss.

02-25-08: Ojgalli
I have a number of the recommended recordings, but I don't understand how studio recordings could demonstrate soundstage. Studio recordings have no real soundstage. If there is any, it's only an artificially simulated one.

This is probably true with most pop music where each track has been recorded separately and then mixed together. If there's any sense of soundstage in these, it's been simulated as you say. But I'm not convinced that "studio recordings have no real soundstage." If the musicians are recorded with an open mic, why wouldn't there be a spatial sense?

Perhaps it's just my room and my set up, but I hear a spaciousness with the Mickey Hart and Ry Cooder cds. An Evening with Windham Hill Live is probably the best example in my list. You feel like you're sitting a few feet away from the musicians.

But you make a good point about orchestral music. It's probably going to give the most realistic experience--along with chamber music.

Ojgalli, your point is well taken, but many of us like rock and roll, and they just don't make rock and roll by putting four guys in a room with two mikes. Some records do make for a convincing approximation of soundstage, however - including almost every record I mentioned above - I think only the Telarc Satie disc is recorded in purist stereo. The Mellencamp disk (Whenever We Wanted) sure sounds like it was recorded with a live band and two mikes, and with a minimum of effects, even if that is not the case.

I, for one, don't care whether a sound stage is real or simulated. The sense of space and impact is the same.

I have more of a problem with the tendency (including my own) to overlook second rate music/performance just because the disc was recorded well. Ideally, we buy nice equipment to make good music sound even better, and don't buy second rate music just because it shows off the gear. Having said that, there are plenty of reco's in this thread for good music recorded well.

If you want live music with great Soundstage try

Harry James & his Big Band - Sheffield Labs...if Harry is not there in front of you and in your room then something is not quite right with the setup.

George Bensen - Weekend in LA - On Broadway - this is one of those rare live recordings that is holgraphic - the drums have been masterfully recorded.

If you want to hear a duet with distinct positions then try Robbie Williams "Me and My Shadow" or "Well Did you Evah" from Swing when your Winning. (this is with Count Basie Band and although the singers are standing but two feet apart you can easily hear this.)