Most of my favorite classical recordings (not necessarily performances of music) will appear on Hyperion, Dorian, Chandos, Harmonia Mundi, Reference Recordings, Mercury Living Presence, Telarc, Delos, and Dorian. Sheffield Labs Drum track on XRCD I second these comments by Newbee and Shadorne enthusiastically (I have the original Sheffield Track Record on direct-to-disk vinyl; the xrcd includes both the Drum & Track records which were originally separate). Also, quoting from myself in a recent similar thread: Most of my listening has been on vinyl, but among the hundred or so cd's in my collection I would say Dvorak's "New World Symphony," Chesky CD31, conducted by Jascha Horenstein, and recorded in 1962!
As has often been said, what counts is usually not which technology is used, but how well it is executed. Regards, -- Al |
Embrya by Maxwell is a good demo disc. |
What qualities in your system are you trying to listen for. Bass, highs, sound stage, bass, more bass, tonal quality, speed, imaging, attach or decay.
Did I miss anything?
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Manu Katche, Neighborhood (on ECM) -- punchy jazz, larger than life recording, but oh so fun |
I've had the following demo CD for the last few years and have to say that between the quality of the recordings, the range of types of music and variety of vocals, instruments and dynamics, it is one CD that pretty much beats everything else (songs aren't bad either for regular listening purposes) and I use it when I am changing equipment around or trying out new speakers for various purposes......also like Diana Krall - Girl in the Other Room and Ramsey Lewis - Time Flies.
Track 1: Dean Peer - UCROSS - Lord's Tundra
Track 2: Jennifer Warnes - The Hunter - Somewhere, Somebody
Track 3: Mary Fahl - The Other Side of Time - Una Furtiva Lagrima
Track 4: Doc Powell - 97th and Columbus - Thank You
Track 5: Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company - Fever (w/ Natalie Cole)
Track 6: Alison Krauss & Union Station - New Favorite - New Favorite
Track 7: Mario Frangoulis - Sometimes I Dream - Vincero, Ferdero
Track 8: Nils Loftgren - Acoustic Live - Keith Don't Go
Track 9: Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company
Do I Ever Cross Your Mind - (w/ Bonnie Raitt)
Track 10: Santana - Supernatural Migra
Track 11: Ray Charles-Genius Loves Company-
Here We Go Again (w/ Norah Jones)
Track 12: Jennifer Warnes - The Hunter - All Over Louisianne
Track 13: Lyle Lovet - Joshua Judges Ruth - She Already Made Up Her Mind
Track 14: Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - (w/ Elton John)
Track 15: Blue Man Group - The Complex - I Feel Love (w/ Venus Hum)
Credit for this compliation goes to Jim Salk....makes some amazing speakers and so needs appropriate demo tracks to use for people to listen to his speakers....I actually bought a couple CDs from Dean Peer as a result and those are also quite well done and would have bought others if I hadn't owned them. |
