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"Litmus test" songs

I know, I know, you can't evaluate a component, let alone a whole system based on a single piece of music, or even a half-dozen pieces. That said, are there any songs out there that you use as litmus tests when evaluating a purchase? Some song that you use when you say, "If this gear doesn't sound good with this song, then I don't care what else it does, it's going back"?

For me the Number 1 is "It's For You" by Pat Metheny Group.
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mike60
275 posts
 
I often start with a well recorded voice. Sometimes I use the song "I know you by heart" off Eva Cassidy's 'Songbird' CD. If that does not paint a deeply holographic image, sound acoustic and incredibly detailed, and completely free of the speakers with some potential to stir the emotions, I usually stop there. If it works, I have around 20 diversified favourites on a range of albums to listen to.
77jovian
385 posts
 
I always include something that ONLY sounds good on a great system, crappy, if not painful, on mediocre setups...try Stan Kenton's West Side Story can be grueling or great!
digsmithd
913 posts
 
I usually use trio jazz recordings im familiar with.Peter erskines recordings(palle danielson,john taylor).later are better.Bobo stensons war orphans is a great recording too.
chashmal
605 posts
 
Great question. I often use Ornette Coleman's "Ramblin'" to get the overall picture. Then I might go to a Schoenberg string quartet, like #4, to get the difficult space as a challenge. Then maybe all out baroque, like a Bach Orchestral suite. If I still like what I am hearing, I go to solo instrument pieces.
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