What are good songs to test speakers? Any suggestions?

[gferrell]

Songs that are full range and have tight punchy bass. Well recorded songs. What do you use? Just looking for suggestions.

[pathfindermwd]

Songs that are full range and have tight punchy bass. Well recorded songs. What do you use? Just looking for suggestions.

Mark Knopfler or anything on Santana's Shaman CD. Also like electronic stuff like Bassnectar- Timestrech for a mix of bass and highs.

Course, it just depends on what you like to listen to.

[SEAWOLF97]

Beatles "Love" ...sonics are outstanding

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(The_Beatles_album)

Love is a soundtrack (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundtrack) remix album (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix_album) of music recorded by The Beatles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles), released in November 2006. It features music compiled and remixed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix) as a mashup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(music)) for the Cirque du Soleil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque_du_Soleil) show of the same name (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(Cirque_du_Soleil)). The album was produced (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_producer) by George Martin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Martin) and his son Giles Martin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giles_Martin), who said, "What people will be hearing on the album is a new experience, a way of re-living the whole Beatles musical lifespan in a very condensed period.

she's so heavy

[RedCoat23]

Buena Vista Social Club - one of the best recordings I've ever heard....catchy tunes too! ;)

[Hoerninger]

What about female voices?
___________
Peter

[hjames]

Janis Ian - Breaking Silence (Harman used it in their sound trailer last year, its quite good)

Jennifer Warner - Famous Blue Raincoat

Joni Mitchell - Hejira (Jaco and Matheny and more as the band!!

just to name 3 as a start ...


What about female voices? ___________ Peter

[4313B]

I cheated and cut and pasted the Classic Albums list :rotfl:

The Band (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Band) - The Band (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Band_(album)) (1969)
Black Sabbath (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Black_Sabbath) - Paranoid (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Paranoid_(album)) (1970)
Phil Collins (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Phil_Collins) - Face Value (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Face_Value_(album)) (1981)
Cream (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Cream_(band)) - Disraeli Gears (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Disraeli_Gears) (1967)
Deep Purple (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Deep_Purple) - Machine Head (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Machine_Head_(album)) (see Classic Albums: Deep Purple - The Making of Machine Head (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Classic_Albums:_Deep_Purple_-_The_Making_of_Machine_Head)) (1972)
Def Leppard (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Def_Leppard) - Hysteria (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Hysteria_(Def_Leppard_album)) (1987)
The Doors (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Doors) - The Doors (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Doors_(album)) (1967)
Duran Duran (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Duran_Duran) - Rio (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Rio_(album)) (1982)
Fleetwood Mac (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Fleetwood_Mac) - Rumours (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Rumours) (1977)
Peter Gabriel (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Peter_Gabriel) - So (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/So_(album)) (1986)
Grateful Dead (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Grateful_Dead) - Anthem of the Sun (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Anthem_of_the_Sun) and American Beauty (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/American_Beauty_(album)) (see Anthem to Beauty (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Anthem_to_Beauty)) (1968/1970)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Jimi_Hendrix_Experience) - Electric Ladyland (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Electric_Ladyland) (1968)
Iron Maiden (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Iron_Maiden) - The Number of the Beast (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Number_of_the_Beast_(album)) (see Classic Albums: Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Classic_Albums:_Iron_Maiden_%E2%80%93_The_Number_o f_the_Beast)) (1982)
Jay-Z (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Jay-Z) - Reasonable Doubt (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Reasonable_Doubt_(album)) (1996)
Elton John (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Elton_John) - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Goodbye_Yellow_Brick_Road) (1973)
Judas Priest (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Judas_Priest) - British Steel (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/British_Steel_(album)) (1980)
John Lennon (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/John_Lennon)/The Plastic Ono Band (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Plastic_Ono_Band) - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/John_Lennon/Plastic_Ono_Band) (1970)
Meat Loaf (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Meat_Loaf) - Bat Out of Hell (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Bat_Out_of_Hell) (1977)
Metallica (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Metallica) - Metallica ("The Black Album") (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Metallica_(album)) (see Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Classic_Albums:_Metallica_-_Metallica)) (1991)
Motörhead (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Mot%C3%B6rhead) - Ace of Spades (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Ace_of_Spades_(album)) (1980)
Nirvana (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Nirvana_(band)) - Nevermind (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Nevermind) (see Classic Albums: Nirvana – Nevermind (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Classic_Albums:_Nirvana_%E2%80%93_Nevermind)) (1991)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Tom_Petty_and_the_Heartbreakers) - Damn the Torpedoes (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Damn_the_Torpedoes_(album)) (1979)
Pink Floyd (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd) - The Dark Side of the Moon (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon), (see Classic Albums: Pink Floyd - The Making of The Dark Side of the Moon (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Classic_Albums:_Pink_Floyd_-_The_Making_of_The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon)) (1973)
Elvis Presley (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley) - Elvis Presley (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley_(album)) (1956)
Primal Scream (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Primal_Scream) - Screamadelica (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Screamadelica) (1991)
Queen (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Queen_(band)) - A Night at the Opera (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/A_Night_at_the_Opera_(Queen_album)) (1975)
Lou Reed (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Lou_Reed) - Transformer (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Transformer_(album)) (1972)
Rush (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Rush_(band)) - 2112 (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/2112_(album)) and Moving Pictures (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Moving_Pictures_(album)) (1976/1981)
Sex Pistols (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Sex_Pistols) - Never Mind the Bollocks (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Never_Mind_the_Bollocks,_Here%27s_the_Sex_Pistols) (1977)
Paul Simon (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Paul_Simon) - Graceland (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Graceland_(album)) (1986)
Simply Red (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Simply_Red) - Stars (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Stars_(Simply_Red_album)) (1991)
Steely Dan (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Steely_Dan) - Aja (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Aja_(album)) (1977)
U2 (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/U2) - The Joshua Tree (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Joshua_Tree) (1987)
The Wailers (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Wailers) - Catch a Fire (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Catch_a_Fire) (1973)
The Who (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/The_Who) - Who's Next (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Who%27s_Next) (1971)
Stevie Wonder (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder) - Songs in the Key of Life (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Songs_in_the_Key_of_Life) (1976)
Frank Zappa (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa) - Apostrophe (') (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Apostrophe_(%27)) / Over-Nite Sensation (http://www.audioheritage.org/wiki/Over-Nite_Sensation) (1974/1973)

[4313B]

Janis Ian - Breaking Silence (Harman used it in their sound trailer last year, its quite good)

Jennifer Warner - Famous Blue Raincoat

Joni Mitchell - Hejira (Jaco and Matheny and more as the band!!

just to name 3 as a start ...

Definitely! :)


Perhaps:

Annie Haslam

Karen Carpenter

Helen Rogers on anything from Paul Hardcastle

Emmy Rossum (her opera voice)

[Odd]

Ane Brun - It All Starts With One

Ane Brun Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ane_Brun)

Great recording, great sound, great songs.

[Krunchy]

+ 1 Mark Knopfler, his solos stuff is so well recorded.
Steely Dan /& Donald Fagen's solo.
The police :D
Sade - for females.

:dont-know:

[pathfindermwd]

Karen Carpenter



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG0_-uiNBjo


Well, if we're going to be Totally Lame!:applaud:

How about Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face? You can hear the tape hiss pretty well when it begins but your focus quickly turns to the vocals. One of the most lifelike recordings I've ever heard. What a bass line too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOFrGbuUqnQ

[4313B]

Well, if we're going to be Totally Lame!:applaud:

Fine...

Justin Bieber -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0hfg1htnM4

This one is better...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxjNpkR6kcg

[grumpy]

I really expected that last one to cut to a Rick Astley vid.... :D If I remember, when I get home I'll put a list up of tunes GT brought to TD's house awhile back, for both pleasant and critical listening. If one had to listen to those same three songs I experienced in the JBL speaker-swap room ad infinitum, it would kill the joy of music pretty quickly. :barf:

[4313B]

He only had 108 thumbs down out of 647,829 views :o:

[SEAWOLF97]

Sade - for females.

:dont-know:

for females ?

this is far and away one of the most unique female renderings of America's tune ...Believe me , if you listen to nothing else today, YOU CAN'T MISS THIS ONE. (tho I remember the words a little differently)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI1kq6CA_38 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI1kq6CA_38)


Fine...

Justin Bieber ->

that little Canadian terrorist/WMD ? :eek: their revenge on the world for something terrible that we must have done? :dont-know: baby,baby,baby ...:barf:

[4313B]

for females ?

this is far and away one of the most unique female renderings of America's tune ...Bloody hell! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[grumpy]

As promised (one playlist used during Everest II development):

Isn't She Lovely/Livingston Taylor
Seven Years/Norah Jones
Hear Me Lord/Bonnie Raitt
Here I Go Falling In Love Again/Mighty Sam McClain
The Power Of Good-Bye/Madonna
The Lemon Tree/Peter, Paul, and Mary
On The 4th Of July/James Taylor
Mama Look A Boo Boo/Harry Belefonte
Here We Go Again/Ray Charles Feat. Norah Jones
True Love Ways/Buddy Holly
Mother Nature's Son/The Beatles
The Pink Panther Theme/Henry Mancini
C.B. Express/Count Basie & His Orchestra

I realize this list isn't all that useful regarding specific versions or recordings,
It is fun to think that "Mama Look A Boo Boo" might have helped voice one
of the world's finest speakers though :)

[pathfindermwd]

Very cool! Thanks Grumpy!

[BMWCCA]

I've enjoyed many of those. Don't skip Jennifer Warnes "The Hunter" which really is far more dynamic a recording than the famous Famous Blue Raincoat, which I have owned since it first came out as well as the re-mastered version.

58099

[Ducatista47]

Female voices? Lisa Gerrard, The Black Opal. This will also test the bass response like few other discs can. The music appears to be brilliantly (partially) synthesized. The better the speakers, the fuller the sound will be. I would love to hear this on the Everest IIs. The music, stylistically, will be unfamilier, but sound is sound. Don't worry about not understanding some of the lyrics. She sometimes sings in a language she invented. Did I mention that her singing is unique in delivery and quality, perhaps the most interesting being recorded?

Other recommended, better known contraltos? Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hynde, Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blond), Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies), Laura Branagan (GREAT five octave voice and the best vibrato ever, but the music was not anything to write home about). All great, but Lisa should tell you everything you need to know.

If contraltos are too low for your testing needs, try my new fave Julie Fowlis from Gaelic Scotland. A nimble, dynamic Golden Throat of the first water and the band is all acoustic. Again, a language you almost certainly don't speak. Sang like an angel award? Eva Cassidy. Find another voice like Eva and you will be a wealthy man.

Or just do your speakers a favor and discover the music of the late Sandy Denny. Your speakers will thank you. No punchy bass, but a ton of genius. And calling Richard Thompson's work on some of the discs a bonus would be insulting him, so I won't mention it. :)

[Krunchy]

What about female voices? ___________Peter


for females ? ? :dont-know:


Yeah Sade's a female (I think) :D, probably any of her albums, Love Deluxe is a good example, unless one does not like Sade, in which case there are plenty of other good suggestions. Her stuff is usually well recorded, she has a nice voice, the rest of the band aint too shabby, good bass & the rest of the other goodies in most music.

[SEAWOLF97]

:dont-know: there are plenty of other good suggestions.

you didn't follow the link ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI1kq6CA_38

Beyonce melts sportswriters' hearts

it will melt your heart ....:crying: , (at least give you heartburn) , she's really quite a unique lyricist.


Bloody hell! http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/rotfl.gif http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/rotfl.gif http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/rotfl.gif

indeed.



Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - Welcome to the Machine will test your bass and David Gilmor's guitar will test the rest.

I recently got the Immersion version on vinyl ..DG is right on this

[dr_gallup]

My first two choices have not made the list so far:

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture - the original Telarc pressing, make sure you have a turntable capable of handling the extreme excursions
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - Welcome to the Machine will test your bass and David Gilmor's guitar will test the rest.

[Krunchy]

you didn't follow the link ?

nO, but now I did :D

[Titanium Dome]

I have to voice my indignation that Emmylou Harris has not been mentioned in the list (females or otherwise).

Boulder to Birmingham from Pieces of the Sky, or almost anything done with the Nash Ramblers is an excellent way to test the delicacy, balance, and tonal integrity of a system.

[Ducatista47]

Small World. I was listening to Emmylou tonight. And another voice of great character and subtlty, Karan Casey. She has a short USA tour next month, in small cultural venues. She's Irish and has also studied Jazz in America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=vXyRPEHCLNQ&feature=fvwp (http://www.karancasey.com/)

http://www.karancasey.com/

[hjames]

Small World. I was listening to Emmylou tonight. And another voice of great character and subtlty, Karan Casey. She has a short USA tour next month, in small cultural venues. She's Irish and has also studied Jazz in America.

(http://www.karancasey.com/)http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=vXyRPEHCLNQ&feature=fvwp

http://www.karancasey.com/

Thanks for the YouTube of her with Lunasa - She sounds very special!
We heard Lunasa on their first US tour in 2000, have seen them a number of times,
and have tickets for them Mar 8 locally.
Its a pity Karan is not playing anywhere locally on this tour ...

[4313B]

I love these kinds of threads. Everytime they get started my collection gets an infusion of great media. :)

[SEAWOLF97]

Julie Driscoll .... "Light My Fire" , she holds that last "Fiierrrr" for a long time ...(at 3:36) a perennial pod fave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBij9_ar6uM

[gferrell]

All of these have been great suggestions, I have been listening to as may as I have time for this weekend and there is a lot of talent out there that I did not know about. The people on this site really have great taste in music! :applaud:

[Titanium Dome]

I love these kinds of threads. Everytime they get started my collection gets an infusion of great media. :)

No kidding.

Can you believe it? I went to a craigslist listing that was poorly worded and listed in the wrong section and bought 50+ LPs today. Fifty LPs! Several of them were mentioned in this thread. Dammit! :banghead:

If anyone thinks I went overboard, this guy had 75 crates of LPs, about 5,000 or so, plus a few thousand 45s. I just had to give up after a couple of hours. It was insane! I did dicker him down to less than a buck an album, even including the complete nine disc Karl Bohm set of Beethoven Edition 9 Symphonien on Deustche Grammaphon for under a buck.

Thankfully I just bought a manual turntable from a well-known person here, so for a couple of hours I've been doing the up-and-down dance listening to some of this stuff.

If not for this thread, I wouldn't even have stopped by this sale. Thanks, everyone. :moon:

[gferrell]

I would have done the same thing. My wife and I go in consignment shops all the time, she looks for old jewelry and I look for music.

[Mr. Widget]

Thankfully I just bought a manual turntable from a well-known person here, so for a couple of hours I've been doing the up-and-down dance listening to some of this stuff.Dome bought a turntable? Did you find a cartridge with a titanium cantilever? :D

Back on topic... sort of, I'll list a few albums with above average sonics.

Every Nora Jones album. Vinyl or CD.
Dave's True Story (Eponymous 2002)
Herbbie Hancock River
Joni Mitchell Travelogue
Kate Bush Aerial
Mark Knopfler Kill to get Crimson

[baldrick]

Here's (http://open.spotify.com/user/baldrick_no/playlist/6IX1WG5a8v4NyF2gkpfnYH) a Spotify list i've put together with lots of songs that are pretty cool to "test" with. The music warys a lot so probably music for most kind of tastes. I've a few more that I haven't sorted yet, but many cool songs as well, Audiophile 1 (http://open.spotify.com/user/baldrick_no/playlist/05Y3BPuAOLj1BQBkgENHiS) and Audiophile 2 (http://open.spotify.com/user/baldrick_no/playlist/5V53RzAgIIZg58xCRWWWjH)

My personal favorites is a norwegian artist called Kari Bremnes and espeically a live performance of Sovngjengersken (http://open.spotify.com/track/7sF7sIzjCvkmRV3WpIDgGr). The part from 1.20-2.50 is amazing, I recently listened to this on a pair of 4350 and WOW!!!

[Ian Mackenzie]

Don't skip Jennifer Warnes "The Hunter" which really is far more dynamic a recording than the famous Famous Blue Raincoat

Agreed.

Not wanting to complicate a simple enough question but it depends on what and why you are testing in a loudspeaker?

I personally like the way some Chesky recordings are produced and find them on the money if you are attempting to assess the fidelity of your speakers.

If you are attempting to assess the dymanic qualities along then some recordings will do this but they can be so over produced that what is on the recording is hardly a realistic rendition of the actual event.

I recently went shopping for head phones and ended up with a set of Grado GSi1000 and a Burson Solist head amp.

The upshot is that very good headpones are far more revealing of a recording quality and production standards.

If you have access to some good Cans they may be the final arbitor of judging good recordings from bad to test a loudspeaker than a loudspeaker itself in anything but an ideal acoustic environment.

Of course the unfortunate reality is that some of your favourite tunes are only so so as far a recordings go but that is life.

[pathfindermwd]

Delighted to see a few votes for Mark Knopfler, who I always turn to offer quality music. I do wonder if anyone else finds his stuff to be a little Prozaic sometimes. He can sing a sad or happy song with absolutely no emotional inflection, the only clue is the words he uses, a sad guitar here and there. It's an interesting hands -off technique which leaves the listener to decide for themselves whether the subject merits an emotional investment. I say this in contrast to much of the music I was accustomed which, I realized in my late 20's seemed to try and over-stimulate to either over-reflection or all out partying, but always with some emotional drive.

The 90's were a real dry period for me (I still hate (HATE!) everything about grunge, and how it ended my generations party), my 80's music usually being party rock and the occasional rock ballad. When I saw that Mark had a new album out (Golden Heart) I bought it right away hoping to see a return to the sound I was more familiar with. I was frankly pretty disappointed upon first hearing it. But, I would find myself listening to it anyway because I found it relaxed me. Then I began to really like the instrumental attributes of the album, the more I listened through the years, the more amazed I became with the orchestral skill it took to put it all together. Golden Heart is still my favorite, and I think still his best work, my favorite: Done with Bonaparte.

Kill to get Crimson is a fine album also, my favorite there being "Heart Full Of Holes" and "Let It All Go". Shangri-La has many good songs like "Postcards From Paraguay" and "The Trawlermans Song". I can't think of any of his works that lack in recording quality, they all seem pretty good, if it's your cup of tea.

Has anyone heard his last song on Shangri-La (a unusually fun song from him), "Don't Crash The Ambulance"? Who do you think he is talking about? I always thought it was George Bush SR./JR..:dont-know:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tswu4a7Ztt8

[DavidF]

No kidding.

Can you believe it? I went to a craigslist listing that was poorly worded and listed in the wrong section and bought 50+ LPs today. Fifty LPs! Several of them were mentioned in this thread. Dammit! :banghead:

If anyone thinks I went overboard, this guy had 75 crates of LPs, about 5,000 or so, plus a few thousand 45s. I just had to give up after a couple of hours. It was insane! I did dicker him down to less than a buck an album, even including the complete nine disc Karl Bohm set of Beethoven Edition 9 Symphonien on Deustche Grammaphon for under a buck.

Thankfully I just bought a manual turntable from a well-known person here, so for a couple of hours I've been doing the up-and-down dance listening to some of this stuff.

If not for this thread, I wouldn't even have stopped by this sale. Thanks, everyone. :moon:

Adding to the classical theme there is one of my all time favs- Pictures At An Exhibition by Mussorgsky. A performance by the Chicago Symphony on RCA 3 mike-stereo Living Stereo. Lot's of dynamic contrasts, soundstage, "brasso " profundos in the horn section. Small speakers with supreme imaging can't get there with this recording.

More towards the intimate venue are recordings of Patricia Barber. Modern Cool and Nightclub are standouts. The former puts emphasis on bass and percussion interaction. The latter strong piano dynamics.

[Aaron]

These two stood out to me as having deep natural sounding bass...and just being loads of fun to listen to and watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g9poWKKpbU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2s5ev0i8tM

[BMWCCA]

You're not actually suggesting that you'd use the YouTube audio to test your system, are you? :eek:

[gferrell]

You're not actually suggesting that you'd use the YouTube audio to test your system, are you? :eek:

Compression sucks!

[hjames]

Delighted to see a few votes for Mark Knopfler, who I always turn to offer quality music. I do wonder if anyone else finds his stuff to be a little Prozaic sometimes. He can sing a sad or happy song with absolutely no emotional inflection, the only clue is the words he uses, a sad guitar here and there. It's an interesting hands -off technique which leaves the listener to decide for themselves whether the subject merits an emotional investment. I say this in contrast to much of the music I was accustomed which, I realized in my late 20's seemed to try and over-stimulate to either over-reflection or all out partying, but always with some emotional drive.

The 90's were a real dry period for me (I still hate (HATE!) everything about grunge, and how it ended my generations party), my 80's music usually being party rock and the occasional rock ballad. When I saw that Mark had a new album out (Golden Heart) I bought it right away hoping to see a return to the sound I was more familiar with. I was frankly pretty disappointed upon first hearing it. But, I would find myself listening to it anyway because I found it relaxed me. Then I began to really like the instrumental attributes of the album, the more I listened through the years, the more amazed I became with the orchestral skill it took to put it all together. Golden Heart is still my favorite, and I think still his best work, my favorite: Done with Bonaparte.

Kill to get Crimson is a fine album also, my favorite there being "Heart Full Of Holes" and "Let It All Go". Shangri-La has many good songs like "Postcards From Paraguay" and "The Trawlermans Song". I can't think of any of his works that lack in recording quality, they all seem pretty good, if it's your cup of tea.

Has anyone heard his last song on Shangri-La (a unusually fun song from him), "Don't Crash The Ambulance"? Who do you think he is talking about? I always thought it was George Bush SR./JR..:dont-know:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tswu4a7Ztt8

With Knopfler, its always about the lyrics - such amazing storytelling -
The Border Reiver, So Far From the Clyde, Piper to the End, Boom Like that (Ray Kroc!!)

Don't forget Mark's new one, Privateer - quite a stunning album!

[Krunchy]

Dome bought a turntable? Did you find a cartridge with a titanium cantilever? :D

That was the firts thing I thought too:rotfl: :applaud::rotfl::homer: Music Good.
The titanium cartridge, classic!

[Titanium Dome]

Dome bought a turntable? Did you find a cartridge with a titanium cantilever? :D




That was the firts thing I thought too:rotfl: :applaud::rotfl::homer: Music Good.
The titanium cartridge, classic!


That's some funny stuff right there. :bomb:


Okay, it was pretty funny. :)

The truth is, it's a replacement for my aging Technics Direct Drive unit whose bearings are past their prime. I've never been without a turntable, since there are a few albums I can't enjoy (or listen to) any other way.

I've taken very good care of my vinyl over the years, so the replacement turntable really made them sound interesting again. However, many of the ones I bought, while they pass visual inspection, are much worse sounding than my own. So now I'll attempt to clean them; otherwise they're not listenable.

[dr_gallup]

The Shure V15 type 5 used a beryllium stylus shank.

[Aaron]

You're not actually suggesting that you'd use the YouTube audio to test your system, are you? :eek:

I use the download helper extension for Firefox to copy the 720p resolution videos. The sound quality seems to be better than many of my CDs.

[SEAWOLF97]

I use the download helper extension for Firefox to copy the 720p resolution videos. The sound quality seems to be better than many of my CDs.

thanx for the tip ..I d'led it, but havn't mastered yet.

this clip may have the dynamics that are good for a demo ;)
I Put a Spell On You ♫ Natacha Atlas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-B2lzs9Ebs

[Hoerninger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z79pgPn357g
___________
Peter

[Krunchy]

That's some funny stuff right there. :bomb:


TD,
the Homer, music good thing is my outlook so I hope you did not take local oaf personally :)

Some material just never made it to cd, plus if you've kept your vinyl in good shape as I have its just more music to play afaic.
Enjoy & I hope you dont have to clean too many of your new albums ;)

[BMWCCA]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z79pgPn357g
___________
Peter

Isn't that just ripped from the "Live at Ronnie Scott's" DVD/BD? How does YouTube get away with that? :confused:

[Titanium Dome]

TD,
the Homer, music good thing is my outlook so I hope you did not take local oaf personally :)

Some material just never made it to cd, plus if you've kept your vinyl in good shape as I have its just more music to play afaic.
Enjoy & I hope you dont have to clean too many of your new albums ;)

No worries. I'm just having fun. :)

Truthfully, I just ordered a Spin Clean to clean up all those records I bought. Otherwise I cannot listen to them: too many pops, clicks, and buzzes from dirt and dust. :barf:

[Mr. Widget]

No worries. I'm just having fun. :)

Truthfully, I just ordered a Spin Clean to clean up all those records I bought. Otherwise I cannot listen to them: too many pops, clicks, and buzzes from dirt and dust. :barf:Not to promote thread derailment, but...

Clean records are definitely key, but also the right cartridge helps a lot too. My vintage Lyra Clavis is much quieter than the Grado, Shure, and Audio Technica MM cartridges I used to listen to.


Widget

[Titanium Dome]

Not to promote thread derailment, but...

Clean records are definitely key, but also the right cartridge helps a lot too. My vintage Lyra Clavis is much quieter than the Grado, Shure, and Audio Technica MM cartridges I used to listen to.


Widget

Since we're already off the rails here:

Lyra Clavis sounds like an STD.

In Latin, it's literally "lyre key" which is an odd thing, since you'd never use your Lyra Clavis to tune a lyre (or to tuna fish).

In this case, my old vinyl sounds very good; just the recent purchases sound awful, so I won't play any more until they're clean.

---------------------------------------------

Now, getting the train back on the track:

Two LPs (out of about 1000) I regret leaving in MI when I moved to CA in the mid 90s have been OOP for a long time. I wasn't even at the auction when they were sold, so I have no idea where they are today.

Curiously, I just found NOS ones in sealed albums for $6 each, and they're on their way here now. It'll be interesting to see if I can recommend them for the topic of this thread after I hear them again after nearly 20 years. Of course my nostalgic remembrance is that, yes, they would test a system, but let's wait until I hear "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" played on a tuba before I make a commitment.

[JeffW]

Not to promote thread derailment, but...

Clean records are definitely key, but also the right cartridge helps a lot too. My vintage Lyra Clavis is much quieter than the Grado, Shure, and Audio Technica MM cartridges I used to listen to.


Widget

Lyra makes a titanium bodied cartridge, Lyra Titan (http://www.lyraconnoisseur.com/Products/Products_Analog/Titan/titan_i.html)

I had a Lyra Delos, yup billet aluminum. It was a nice cartridge other than that.

[1audiohack]

I had a Lyra Delos, yup billet aluminum. It was a nice cartridge other than that.

:rotfl:

[gferrell]

No worries. I'm just having fun. :)

Truthfully, I just ordered a Spin Clean to clean up all those records I bought. Otherwise I cannot listen to them: too many pops, clicks, and buzzes from dirt and dust. :barf:

Let me know how that spin clean works, I have thought about getting one.

[NickH]

Welcome to Jurassic park. No7 on the soundtrack. Amazing song.

[Titanium Dome]

Let me know how that spin clean works, I have thought about getting one.

To avoid disturbing this thread much more, I'll respond in a new thread.

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?34022-LP-Upkeep-and-its-Worthiness

[gferrell]

I am surprised no one mentioned "Hell Freezes Over".

[fast_mick]

When i was 17 my next door neighbour got some JBL speakers that cost $4000 in 1977, when i check photos of what they could have been I think they were i were 4333B's.

He used to Play Linda Ronstadt's Poor Poor Pitiful me.

The sound and and the bass dynamics has made me buy JBLs ever since.

Mick

[SEAWOLF97]

surprised that nobody has mentioned the JBL "Sessions" 2 LP set :dont-know:

on side 4 , the last cut is Hoyt Axton singing "Joy to the World" , it was made to show off JBL's and does so very well ;)

[staccatiss]

Here are some songs I use:

"Needed Time" - Eric Bibb (Opus 3 recorded)
"Private Investigations" - Dire Straits
"Stimela" - xxx
"The girl in the other room" - Diana Krall
"When I feel the sea beneath my soul" - Tiny Island (Opus 3 recorded)
"Tiden bara gaar" - Opus 3
"Hotel California (live)" - high rez version
"Introduction" by Marcus Miller
"The beat hotel" - Alan Taylor
"Radioactivety" - Kraftwerk
"Stop those bells (live)" - Sarah K
"If this isn´t jazz" - Patricia Barber
"Moanin'" - Sly Dunbar (Telarc)
"Army of me" - Bjork
"Poor boy" - Michael Ruff (Sheffield Lab version)
"Big Drum_Small World -12- Drummer's Reel" - Dhol Foundation



/Staccatiss

[gferrell]

surprised that nobody has mentioned the JBL "Sessions" 2 LP set :dont-know:

on side 4 , the last cut is Hoyt Axton singing "Joy to the World" , it was made to show off JBL's and does so very well ;)

Never heard of it or heard it but I will because I just bought it.

[joeybuckets]

I always used pink floyd (dark side if the moon)

[Dave_72]

I always used pink floyd (dark side if the moon)

I'll throw one from left field: The Stooges-'The Stooges' Surprisingly a good recording, considering it's proto punk!

[therk320]

Tommy Bolin's Post Toastee for a good all around test.

[SEAWOLF97]

Never heard of it or heard it but I will because I just bought it.

did it ever show up ?

[gferrell]

Yes it did, I listened to it last weekend. Very informative, I learned what to listen for. Nice songs for testing speakers and it was in pristine shape. I believe it will be a collectors item.

[Ken Pachkowsky]

Tommy Bolin's Post Toastee for a good all around test.

LOL yes, it will rattle the windows.....pretty compressed from what I remember. My old JBL 4350's used to like it.

[Mr. Widget]

LOL yes, it will rattle the windows.....pretty compressed from what I remember. My old JBL 4350's used to like it.Now that takes me back! I haven't listened to that genre of music in decades, but in the foggy recesses of my brain I do vaguely remember my college dorm and playing Post Toastee turned up to 11.


Widget

[4313B]

I listened to that entire CD just last week in the car. It really needs a good remastering.

[SEAWOLF97]

Yes it did, I listened to it last weekend. Very informative, I learned what to listen for. Nice songs for testing speakers and it was in pristine shape. I believe it will be a collectors item.

I got mine from the JBL dealer . Was released from the USN in '72 and had purchased Pioneer CS-77a's from the PX. Almost immediately began looking for something better.
Lusted after L100's at Fred's Sound of Music, but at $273 each, well that was a months pay back then.
Some AR3's presented them selves and became my new mains, but I still kept looking at the L100's ...dealer must have taken pity (or revenge) on me and handed the "Sessions" LP's over . Didn't get the L100's until early 80's ($4 , needed rehab) ...they got passed on to my son, but I still have the records.

[sparky2]

I got mine from the JBL dealer . Was released from the USN in '72 and had purchased Pioneer CS-77a's from the PX. Almost immediately began looking for something better.
Lusted after L100's at Fred's Sound of Music, but at $273 each, well that was a months pay back then.
Some AR3's presented them selves and became my new mains, but I still kept looking at the L100's ...dealer must have taken pity (or revenge) on me and handed the "Sessions" LP's over . Didn't get the L100's until early 80's ($4 , needed rehab) ...they got passed on to my son, but I still have the records.

My brother-in-law still has some L100's he bought in 1973 or so, and they are still cranking. I replaced the foam grills for him in the mid-1980's, but they have had no other problems since. Nice walnut cabinets, too. I used to want a pair of them really badly. I just finished rebuilding a 1969 model 4320 for my old high-school friend. It is basically the same as an L200. They all were made around the same time frame. -Sparky2-

[RLock]

Jeff Beck Blow by Blow - Works out the drivers:applaud:

[SEAWOLF97]

for those of youz of the classic persuasion , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets

or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanfare_for_the_Common_Man

and ELP's version too ..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanfare_for_the_Common_Man_(Emerson,_Lake_%26_Palm er_song)

or even ... (maybe only available on LP) ...The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zodiac:_Cosmic_Sounds

http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue21/zodiac01.html

According to music critic Richie Unterberger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Unterberger):
Divided into 12 separate tracks, one for each astrological sign, it appeared just as both psychedelic rock and astrology itself were coming into vogue in the youthful counterculture. In some respects it was similar to other instrumental psychsploitation albums of the time, with a spacy yet tight groove that could have fit into the soundtrack of 1966 Sunset Strip documentaries, played in large measure by seasoned Los Angeles session musicians. In other respects, it was futuristic, embellished by some of the first Moog synthesizer ever heard on a commercial recording, an assortment of exotic percussive instruments, and sitar. The arrangements were further decorated by haunting harpsichord and organ, along with standard mid-1960s Los Angeles rock guitar licks. For those who took the astrology as seriously as the music, there was the dramatic reading of narrator Cyrus Faryar, musing upon aspects of each astrological sign in a rich, deep voice without a hint of irony.

[Radley]

On most systems I work on, I tend to use acoustic music. The Ramones and AC/DC might "RAWK" but with the distorted electric guitars you might not know if you have problems or not.

Allison Krauss & Union Station had some great SACDs that I use.
Also the last track from "Sketches of Spain" by Miles Davis is astounding. I think God himself uses that one.
Martina McBride's "If I Had Your Name" is very good too, especially if there are subwoofers in the system.
Dolly Parton's "Grass Is Blue" is another keeper (Grammy winner).

Too many times I see guys using iPods for playback at demo's. Wrong on so many levels. I also kill anyone attempting to play Steely Dan.

There are some good rack mount Denon & Tascam CD players so there is really no excuse for not bring a good hi-fi source to the sites.

[hjames]

Janis Ian - Breaking Silence ... great recording and some great tracks! (Walking on Sacred Ground; and; This House)

Fairfield Four - Standing in the Safety Zone - Great acapella band - somewhat like Blind Boys of Alabama but better recorded

Dwight Yokum - Beunos Noches from a Lonely Room - Try Streets of Bakersfield w/Buck Owens ... (let that mandolin tear yer head right off!)

David Sylvian - Secrets of the Beehive - Orpheus (w/Mark Isham on Flugelhorn ...!) or "When the Poets dreamed of Angels .."

Boz Scaggs - Dig (Thanks to you) ... There is a bass doubler at play that will push yer woofers)

King Crimson Project - A Scarcity of Miracles (the title track has a nice mix of instruments and vocals ... work it!)

Its a start ...


======================


On most systems I work on, I tend to use acoustic music. The Ramones and AC/DC might "RAWK" but with the distorted electric guitars you might not know if you have problems or not.

Allison Krauss & Union Station had some great SACDs that I use.
Also the last track from "Sketches of Spain" by Miles Davis is astounding. I think God himself uses that one.
Martina McBride's "If I Had Your Name" is very good too, especially if there are subwoofers in the system.
Dolly Parton's "Grass Is Blue" is another keeper (Grammy winner).

Too many times I see guys using iPods for playback at demo's. Wrong on so many levels. I also kill anyone attempting to play Steely Dan.

There are some good rack mount Denon & Tascam CD players so there is really no excuse for not bring a good hi-fi source to the sites.

[jblwolf]

since Ive been buying used,Ive run across sellers that dont want their speaker cranked up ,for that reason I never used music the test a speaker,I use to use the Shure test record,then the denon test cd.now I carry my ipod with test tones/freq swepts recorded in 20bit/48kHz wave format.this way I can give the speaker a real good going over before a drop any coin on a vintage speaker.

[martin2395]

My personal list of tracks that I use to test speakers:

Allan Taylor - Colour to the moon / House by the river / A road too long
Chris Jones - No sanctuary here / God moves on water
Diana Krall - Temptation / Stop this world
Dire straits - Brothers in arms / Ride across the river
Steve Ray Vaughan - Tin pan alley
Janis Ian - Breaking silence
Sophie Zelmani - How it feels
London Grammar - Hey now (very low bass)
The XX - Reunion (again, very low bass)

[audiomagnate]

1. Flight Facilities "Crave" Try the Cassian and Graz remixes. Keep women, small children and pets far away when you crank this one up! "Slam" defined on big JBLs.
2. Rimsky-Korsikov "The Snow Maiden" From the HD Tracks 2013 Sampler.
3. Bob Dylan "Blowin in the Wind" I have the SACD, but even the 320 MP# sounds damn good.
4. Chet Atkins "Teen Scene" The whole album sounds perfect to me, vinyl or digital. I real reference standard IMO.

2 L300's +swarm of subs + gobs of watts = nirvana

[SEAWOLF97]

I like movie soundtracks.

You want slam ? Try the ST from "V for Vendetta"
or the low creaky tones from "Crimson Tide"

the ST from "Gladiator" sent my old Ohm Walsh 2XO's
into thermal shutdown. Took 45 minutes for them to recover.

[sonofagun]

I have never liked CW music, but this gal blows me away:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWnfIVWg0yo

Her entire debut CD is great.

Also for speaker performance evaluation try Mannheim Steamroller's offerings such as Fresh Aire III.

[Radley]

Last week I upgraded a system at a club and I asked the owner to put on some music like their DJ's normally play. He plugged in his cell phone, dialed up Pandora and it sounded horrid. He said there wasn't any bass nor enough midrange.

I went over and plugged in my cd player, put on "Brutal" by Black Uhuru and the room exploded in chest thumping high fidelity...

[Scott Texeira]

I have never liked CW music, but this gal blows me away:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWnfIVWg0yo

Her entire debut CD is great.

Also for speaker performance evaluation try Mannheim Steamroller's offerings such as Fresh Aire III.


2 weeks ago was the Country Music Festival from Nashville on ABC 40? Wow .. what a production!
Excellent audio and video and it rocked!

[laurie]

I always thought Zenyatta Mondatta by the Police was a good album to test speakers. The music is well produced, not overly produced. It has a lot of space with not too many overdubs, allowing all three musicians to breathe. Andy Summers' rhythm guitar compliments the bass and drums of Sting and Copeland really well. Plus, Sting plays different basses inlcuding fretless and what they used to call the Erectric, an upright bass amplified but with the body removed to get that warm tone; Sting's bass lines are perfect for quality JBL speakers.

[Odd]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61L70Enef2L.jpg

[grumpy]

Thanks Odd, it's a fun listen so far :)

[SEAWOLF97]

When I visited my son in Chicago last summer , he played the LP of Bob Dylan's MODERN TIMES on vinyl to show off his reunited L100's .... very impressive recording.

I got home and found the CD at the lib ...it's NOT what you expect from BD. The sonics are outstanding.

[SEAWOLF97]

Leftfield/Bambaataa - Afrika Shoxfrom the movie "Vanilla Sky"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi0erY0WG6A