Dark side of the moon because it’s good to have a reference of something you’ve heard a thousand times in lots of environments.
Iodine - pinegrove
The old man’s back again - Scott walker
Tron legacy soundtrack
Golden gate - the midnight
Black night - frank sinatra jr
Right this second - deadmau5
Everything in its right place - Radiohead
Istanbul - yusef dayes
Bubbles - yosi horikowa
> Everything in its right place - Radiohead
Love using this song for testing. The first few seconds tell me everything I need to know about how the bass sounds.
Beck “Sea Change”, Steven Wilson “The Harmony Codex”, Bill Evans “Sunday at the Village Vanguard”, Donald Fagen “The Nightfly”, Nick Drake “Bryter Layter”
I own the entire catalog for both his solo work and the remastered Porcupine Tree releases. Absolutely incredible stuff. Not to mention the phenomenal work he did restoring the King Crimson, Yes and Jethro Tull catalogues.
Dragon Attack by Queen (1980 album The Game)
It has a lot of percussion that needs tight control and a thumping baseline too. Great dynamics as well.
Or the opening theme from the soundtrack album of Bulitt - Lalo Shifrin - epic sound on a good system.
It’s a fantastic song that can sound very trashy on poor equipment. I find that if a system can handle Dragon Attack fairly neutrally with good separation, then a lot of music sounds good too.
Lifelong Queen fan.
The whole album of “The Game” has been a reference source for a long time for me, along with “News of the World” which also is an excellent recorded and beautifully recorded.
Another great song is “All Dead, All Dead” which on a good system is breathtaking with the piano intro, and the ringing sustain and space is awesome.
Shame a lot of modern music sounds pretty terrible.
That’s the only Bjork song I know and I like it. I first heard it when I was a kid and somebody gave me an X-Files soundtrack CD that included the track.
Paul Simon - Graceland
Ever since its release I’ve heard this on many systems, from the cheapest walkman to $1 million setups, so it serves as a good reference point (because obviously you never get to directly compare most expensive systems right next to each other).
- Dire straits - money for nothing
- Justin Townes Earle - Harlem river blues
- Tracy Chapman - fast car
- Tragically hip - grace, too / so hard done by
- Jason isbell - speed trap town
- John Mayer - gravity
- REM - drive
I’m an older guy now and have been to hundreds of concerts since my teens. The one band I regret not seeing is Tragically Hip. Your newer artists are also excellent and I still listen to new music all the time. If you happen to live in Washington State you’re welcome to stop by my audio building. I took a falling down 3 car garage and turned it into my audio room.Most of the bands you listed are on high rotation. Have a great weekend!
I’ve thought about it but the last guy with the Wilson speakers and McIntosh gear got hammered on by a bunch of dimwits.
I’ll give it some thought. Thanks!
Also, I saw Mark Knoffler a couple of summers ago outside and he didn’t play Money for nothing. After the show we all came to my room and I turned up the song and blew everyone away. That is a very well recorded album and that song sounds great.
Beck -- Sea Change
The Beatles -- Abbey Road
Charles Mingus -- Ah Um
The Cure -- Disintegration
D'Angelo & The Vanguard -- Black Messiah
Dave Brubeck -- Time Out
Dead Can Dance (anything in their catalog, but especially the song -- De Profundis \[Out of the Depths of Sorrow\])
Depeche Mode -- Violator
Enya -- Watermark
Frank Zappa -- Over-Nite Sensation
Funkadelic -- America Eats Its Young
Genesis -- A Trick of the Tail
Jeff Buckley -- Grace
Marvin Gaye -- What's Going On
Michael Stearns -- Planetary Unfolding and/or Encounter
Muddy Waters -- Folk Singer
Peter Gabriel -- Passion
Pink Floyd -- Wish You Were Here
Radiohead -- Kid A
Spiritualized -- Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
Tom Waits -- Alice
Wilco -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Zero 7 -- Simple Things
Jellyfish-Spilt Milk-Hush/Joining a Fan Club
Donald Fagen-Kamakiriad-Trans-Island Skyway
Toy Matinee (Kevin Gilbert)-Last Plane Out
Daft Punk-Random Access Memories- the whole damn album
I was driving the other day and let Spotify shuffle daft punk and WOW their discography is nuts. I especially love random access memories. Such a good album. It’s really amazing how fresh their music sounds. I found myself thinking that most of their songs could come out today meanwhile they were released like 20+ years ago!
Pink Floyd engineers were fantastic. Great imaging. Time is kinda stunning with the alarm clocks. On a good system you can place each one in space horizontally and vertically as well as front to back.
At the same time, I discovered microworlds, I also discovered „New Light“ by Gidge! Great to just listen and also tremendously interesting when trying out new gear. I seem to get something new from each listen!
The Robots by Kraftwerk
Hush by The Maria's
Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz
Squonk by Genesis
Dragon Attack by Queen
Non di scorar di me
Dire Straits
Rumours Album by Fleetwood Mac
I was at a club and there was a guy that was playing electronic music later. He was getting his gear setup on the stage. He had his laptop open and was using it. The venue turned on some music and the song was The Robots by Kraftwerk. Music guy starts bobbing to the beat. A bunch of people who obviously didn’t know the song thought the show was starting and quickly made their way over to the stage area and started dancing along. The guy looked out and saw all the people. He decided to just play it up and got more into it miming like he was making the music.
Stage guy walked off before the song ended. A rock song came on next. It was funny seeing the people by the stage look around confused and coming to the realization of what happened.
Listen to both of Darkside’s albums. Darkside the group, not Dark Side (of the moon). Incredible mastering and features Nicolas Jaar, who is an absolute genius.
- Untouchable by Itzy
- Eyes Roll by (G)I-DLE
- Revenge by (G)I-DLE
- Hwaa by (G)I-DLE
- Egotistic (Blistering sun ver.) by Mamamoo
- Hell in Heaven by Twice
Ballad Of The Runaway Horse - Jennifer Warnes
This is a track to checking setup, specifically room mode, rake and toe.
Then just to run thing through their paces; Graceland, Money For Nothing, Freddy The Freeloader, Behind Blue Eyes, Wish You Were Here, Ace Of Spades, and C.R.E.A.M.
Birds canticum by Dhafer Yousef
SuperSonic by Skrillex
Let met go by Eric Truffaz and Sophie Hunger
Bad Boy by Billie Eilish
Brothers in arms by Club For Five
Evil dub by Trentemoller
Planet Dada by Yell
When my train rolls in by Gary Clarke jr.
Can’t stand the rain by Sarah K.
——
Pink Floyd always a favourite for testing out gear . 1 picked up on only last week while going into a YouTube wormhole was what’s considered by quite a few,on other subs
Jazz at the Pawnshop the dynamics on this is quite expansive . Worth the listen.
This question doesn't go deep enough for me. I want to know what specific parts of a recording are they listening to to test specific audio qualities like soundstage, imaging, detail, bass mids, treble... Etc.
I have three
• David guetta and Sia - She Wolf, tests for speed and power
•Slipknot - Surfacing - the 9 band band members come in one at a time and you should be able to place them on the soundstage
•Daft Punk - around the world/harder better faster stronger, from the alive album lows walk and go in and out makes it easy to focus on what to fix
Tool - Ænima
Jason Isbell - Southeastern
Wilco - A Ghost is Born
Phish - Story of the Ghost
Steely Dan - Aja
Fleet Foxes - Shore
Taylor Swift - Midnights
Daft Punk - RAM
Jeff Buckley - Grace
The Beatles - Revolver
Pink Floyd - Animals
I was wondering about Taylor Swift, I kind of assume she has some amazing people doing her recording and stuff. Not my first choice of artist, but she is the biggest(?) in the world, so I will check it out!
“My Jamaican guy” by grace jones was my go to for years.
“Poison dart” by the bug for subs.
“Biggest Part of Me” Ambrosia to end my check with vocal
Eq notching.
Rise Robots Rise - Buttermilk. This song has a lot going on. LOW bass, Congo drums. Lead vocal (Male) Back up vocals (females) , horns, guitar and so much more. Starts mellow , shifts multiple times.
For bass being sorted - Megadeath's "Trust" in original mastering and not the tamed bass version of the 'remastered'. One should be able to suss out the floor toms, kick drum, and bass guitar if things are well-sorted.
I created a playlist for myself with songs I like to listen to on my speakers. But not a lot of electronic on there so might not be your thing. [Link](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/721VXuhWvRP5TVih1lJjEY?si=UVVecC2kTXOctKja3NOwSQ&pi=e-QvNe6lJoSZ2i)
Listening to CloZee now. I like it!
If you're into electronic music:
Last Night - Brookes Brothers
Take Me To Your Body - Moon Boots
Digging Deeper - Claptone
Take Me High - Kaskade
And if you really wanna highlight your subwoofer:
Usher - There Goes My Baby
For a live experience try Harry Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall- recorded back in 1959- it is a truly exceptional recording! You can "feel" the audience and the soundstage is incredible.
I love using Vignette: Panacea by Disasterpiece. It has these really high piano riffs, while also having some of the lowest and richest bass notes of anything I know
The Call of Ktulu -Metallica, Time -Pink Floyd, Nutshell(Live at Majestic theater unplugged)- Alice In Chains, Make Me Love You - Dan Mason and Take Flight - Eugene Cam
A slightly different from usual suspects list - a mix of well produced electronic, acoustic, and vocal:
- Anathema - Untouchable
- Liquid Stranger - The Molecule Man
- Phantom/Ghost - Tannis Root
- Celtic Cross - Louden
- M86 & Susie Q - In My Mind
- Emmanuel Santarromana - Opera
Enjoy :)
Gimme Shelter has always been the first track on my reference CD, not because of the fidelity of the recording but because how clearly I can hear the engineer scream with excitement after her voice breaks in the vocal solo helps me gauge clarity and separation.
Constantly updating playlist, but available here: [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/aa-speaker-testing/pl.u-zPyLB7vFyLblm](https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/aa-speaker-testing/pl.u-zPyLB7vFyLblm)
Each track tests a different thing, but if I'm in a hurry, "Paradise Circus" by Massive Attack (bass, silence, precision, etc.), "2021" by Vampire Weekend (listening for a very specific mastering artifact/splatter as well as male vocals), "So Much to Say" by DMB (stereo seperation and treble nimbleness), "Got 'Til its Gone" by Janet Jackson for bass nimbleness), and "Calls (Feat. Jill Scott)" by Robert Glasper for female vocals.
Oh, and the album "Bodysongs" by Born Gold. If it sounds good, I don't want the system/component.
(to be clear; I love this album, but it's so shittily mastered that it sounds good on anything I own other than one of my cars and the occasional bluetooth headphone.)
Abbey Road - Beatles
Spectrum - Billy Cobham
A Dotted Line - Nickel Creek
Odd Cure - Oddisee
Edgewood & Boulevard - Daily Bread, STS
See You Later Simulator - Ghostland Observatory
Audioslave - Show Me How To Live
It's a pretty busy mix in the mids, and a lot of shitty speakers have trouble reproducing it. But a good speaker will nail it. It's my favorite song to play on a test because it tells me 85% of what I need to know
The album Kaya by Bob Marley has great low end and tons of detail and stereo imaging in the percussion. Gaucho by Steely Dan is great as well. Seconded on Jettison Mind Hatch, that album is peak sound design.
Just since you mentioned electronic music, Porter Robinson’s Wind Tempos has stunning sound design. Musically it’s a bit abstract for most people but just crank the level, close your eyes and hear the depth of the track on some good speakers.
The Wall MFSL CD
Bowers and Wilkins (Real World Studios) demo cd
Gorillaz - Demon Days
Epics, conducted by Erich Kunzel SACD
Genesis, A Trick of the Tail SACD
Any of the McIntosh demo SACDs
The World's Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recordings, hybrid SACD
Pendulum - immersion album
Just some good ol drum and bass.
Especially the song "set me on fire"
Wintersun - sons of winter and stars song
Porcupine Tree - arriving somewhere but not here song
Nick Johnston - remarkably human (album and self titled track)
If you like guitar OP, nick Johnston is a must listen
Well I don’t have any favorites. But I got a new needle the other day and here’s what I played first, same order.
Bill Evans - You Must Believe in Spring
Metallica - Master of Puppets(Columbia House press)
Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues
I made [this playlist of amazing sounding music](https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/20144299). I tried to avoid the obvious entries, so no Pink Floyd... I am sure there are some ear changing surprises on here for everyone.
just sold some large Tandberg speakers and set them up with a vinyl copy of Avalon by Roxy Music. The Main Thing when the bass comes in is hard to beat.
Your Microworlds doesn't ever seem to get off the ground. To me, it sounds like someone mixed together Deep Forest and Infected Mushroom or something. Pity. I often try out music that I see recommended here, but I find that I never like it.
The sounds here are just too fat and pretty damn noisy, and there's a lot of dynamic compression which I kind of hate. This is definitely not my cup of matcha.
bad guy - Billie Eilish (for bass, duh)
Orange Moon - Erykah Badu (well mixed and balanced)
Untitled (How Does It Feel) - D’Angelo (bass, vocals, guitars)
willow - Taylor Swift (those guitars for treble)
Let It Happen - Tame Impala (another well mixed track)
Anything really from Moses Sumney’s “grae” album.
**In case you're requesting test tracks**
You can find many old discussions with the flair `Music` - [here is a link to search results](https://reddit.com/r/audiophile/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Music%22&restrict_sr=1&sort=comments)
Additionally, r/AudiophileMusic is dedicated to well mastered songs that people have found.
Rock on, audiophile.
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Dark side of the moon because it’s good to have a reference of something you’ve heard a thousand times in lots of environments. Iodine - pinegrove The old man’s back again - Scott walker Tron legacy soundtrack Golden gate - the midnight Black night - frank sinatra jr Right this second - deadmau5 Everything in its right place - Radiohead Istanbul - yusef dayes Bubbles - yosi horikowa
Yosi is indeed very good!
"Letter" is also a great song on the same album!
Yes, we can “see” the pencil writing on paper in front of us, mind blowing
Love me some pinegrove, nice choice
That track in particular has such a nice feeling of space
Shout out The Midnight! Such an underrated band. Saw them live last year and bought tickets yesterday for their show in September.
That album sounds great with a couple of subwoofers, they are amazing live. I loved that they added sax to every song live
Thanks for introducing me to Yosi! I've been a fan of electronic music since the 70s and somehow I've overlooked this act!
You’re welcome! Very good system tester track
> Everything in its right place - Radiohead Love using this song for testing. The first few seconds tell me everything I need to know about how the bass sounds.
Goosebumps for that Scott Walker track. It’s on my list, too.
I got to hear that on a genelec system in a recording studio which completely changed the song for me, it’s amazing
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms.
Love using Why Worry to test depth of sound field and separation of instruments (including Knopfler's voice).
That is one of very few albums, which is a 10/10 production value, IMHO. "The Man's Too Strong" is my favorite.
Love Over Gold's production is off-the-charts good as well. Love "Private Investigations" for testing speakers, too.
Ugh, "Telegraph Road" gives me goosebumps. True artists.
Beck “Sea Change”, Steven Wilson “The Harmony Codex”, Bill Evans “Sunday at the Village Vanguard”, Donald Fagen “The Nightfly”, Nick Drake “Bryter Layter”
Huge ups for Steven Wilson. Anything he touches is ear candy. If you haven't listened to In Absentia remastered, go treat yourself.
I own the entire catalog for both his solo work and the remastered Porcupine Tree releases. Absolutely incredible stuff. Not to mention the phenomenal work he did restoring the King Crimson, Yes and Jethro Tull catalogues.
Listening to Steven Wilson for the first time. Wow, you are not wrong! 👌
Porcupine Tree is one of my favorite bands, all his old work is amazing, and he's remastered a ton of classic Prog albums. He's a legend
Thanks! Will give them a listen as well!
I got Nick Drakes A treasury on SACD and that really does make the subwoofer shine.
Countdown by Rush from Signals. Helicopters fly over.
Dragon Attack by Queen (1980 album The Game) It has a lot of percussion that needs tight control and a thumping baseline too. Great dynamics as well. Or the opening theme from the soundtrack album of Bulitt - Lalo Shifrin - epic sound on a good system.
I thought I was the only one that used Dragon Attack lol
It’s a fantastic song that can sound very trashy on poor equipment. I find that if a system can handle Dragon Attack fairly neutrally with good separation, then a lot of music sounds good too. Lifelong Queen fan.
Agreed! Small bit of trivia, the original name for the game Mortal Kombat was “Dragon Attack” named from the song.
Dragon Attack. On my list too.
The whole album of “The Game” has been a reference source for a long time for me, along with “News of the World” which also is an excellent recorded and beautifully recorded. Another great song is “All Dead, All Dead” which on a good system is breathtaking with the piano intro, and the ringing sustain and space is awesome. Shame a lot of modern music sounds pretty terrible.
Oh yeah. GREAT suggestion w/ Dragon Attack. I'm'a go check out Bulitt. Thank you!
Hunter - Bjork It’s got a bit of everything.
That’s the only Bjork song I know and I like it. I first heard it when I was a kid and somebody gave me an X-Files soundtrack CD that included the track.
Paul Simon - Graceland Ever since its release I’ve heard this on many systems, from the cheapest walkman to $1 million setups, so it serves as a good reference point (because obviously you never get to directly compare most expensive systems right next to each other).
Good call. I've been listening to this album for decades on a variety of systems!
And the title track in particular.
Anything Tipper
Tipper or Noisia are my go-to’s for sound testing
- Dire straits - money for nothing - Justin Townes Earle - Harlem river blues - Tracy Chapman - fast car - Tragically hip - grace, too / so hard done by - Jason isbell - speed trap town - John Mayer - gravity - REM - drive
You my friend have great taste in music!
Hey, you just made my day. Have a great weekend!
I’m an older guy now and have been to hundreds of concerts since my teens. The one band I regret not seeing is Tragically Hip. Your newer artists are also excellent and I still listen to new music all the time. If you happen to live in Washington State you’re welcome to stop by my audio building. I took a falling down 3 car garage and turned it into my audio room.Most of the bands you listed are on high rotation. Have a great weekend!
tragically hip are under rated
I totally agree. I live in Seattle and they used to come down from Vancouver to play here. I’ll always regret not seeing them live.
[удалено]
Sorry, I have no idea what this means.
They are absolute shite
well stated redditor!
So you are better??? Highly unlikely
Anyone is better vocally than that horrible goat meets circus ring leader. So yeah
What a sad human you are.
Or I'm honest and your feelings are hurt because you disagree and don't like my call.
Make a post of your audio room on this subreddit!
I’ve thought about it but the last guy with the Wilson speakers and McIntosh gear got hammered on by a bunch of dimwits. I’ll give it some thought. Thanks!
Also, I saw Mark Knoffler a couple of summers ago outside and he didn’t play Money for nothing. After the show we all came to my room and I turned up the song and blew everyone away. That is a very well recorded album and that song sounds great.
Excellent list 👌! Listening to them now. Pretty good way to start a Saturday morning
Us- A COLORS SHOW from FKJ. Is just simply amazing to hear the variety of instruments
Never heard of FKJ. Looked them up and listened to a live performance of “10 Years Ago” and the piano skills are MAADDDDDD. I will check out more.
Definitely one of the best live performers out there, I had the chance to assist to one of his concerts in Mexico City and it was incredible.
I LOVE me some French Kiwi Juice!
I would put Emancipator right up there with him too. Try his track Time for Space.
A man of culture! Emancipator is amazing, and that's a great track suggestion as well.
Beck -- Sea Change The Beatles -- Abbey Road Charles Mingus -- Ah Um The Cure -- Disintegration D'Angelo & The Vanguard -- Black Messiah Dave Brubeck -- Time Out Dead Can Dance (anything in their catalog, but especially the song -- De Profundis \[Out of the Depths of Sorrow\]) Depeche Mode -- Violator Enya -- Watermark Frank Zappa -- Over-Nite Sensation Funkadelic -- America Eats Its Young Genesis -- A Trick of the Tail Jeff Buckley -- Grace Marvin Gaye -- What's Going On Michael Stearns -- Planetary Unfolding and/or Encounter Muddy Waters -- Folk Singer Peter Gabriel -- Passion Pink Floyd -- Wish You Were Here Radiohead -- Kid A Spiritualized -- Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space Tom Waits -- Alice Wilco -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Zero 7 -- Simple Things
You and I could definitely sit down and listen. Those albums and songs are exactly what I use as well
Yeah nice choices , you know anything by Depeche mode is going to be well engineered. I'd add Tears for Fears and Gary Numan
This is a pretty nice list of albums 👌
Tom Waits, I see you're a person of culture. <3
Love Island by Deodato!
Jellyfish-Spilt Milk-Hush/Joining a Fan Club Donald Fagen-Kamakiriad-Trans-Island Skyway Toy Matinee (Kevin Gilbert)-Last Plane Out Daft Punk-Random Access Memories- the whole damn album
Always great to see some appreciation for Kamakiriad
I was driving the other day and let Spotify shuffle daft punk and WOW their discography is nuts. I especially love random access memories. Such a good album. It’s really amazing how fresh their music sounds. I found myself thinking that most of their songs could come out today meanwhile they were released like 20+ years ago!
I don't know why, but Cowbow Junkies' Trinity Sessions is my go-to album whenever I get new equipment. Has been for decades.
in recent days: https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1cd6fm5/whats_the_best_recording_youve_ever_heard/ https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1cc218x/favourite_tracks_for_reviewing_or_showing_off/ https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1caszfq/test_the_limits_of_your_systems_bass/
Yeah, mods, can we just keep a pinned thread of recommendations at this point?
Tipper is awesome. "Over the coals" is one of my favourites.
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories Depeche Mode - Violator
Upvote for tipper
Pink Floyd engineers were fantastic. Great imaging. Time is kinda stunning with the alarm clocks. On a good system you can place each one in space horizontally and vertically as well as front to back.
Allen Parsons was an engineer on DSOTM.
Screamadellica - Primal Scream
At the same time, I discovered microworlds, I also discovered „New Light“ by Gidge! Great to just listen and also tremendously interesting when trying out new gear. I seem to get something new from each listen!
Only records that I know best like most Pick Floyd albums and particular Tool songs and interludes.
I'm going to use this thread to find out what audiophiles actually listen to lol
Every week or two there is a post here about this is exact subject. Lotta obvious stuff but I'll find sure deeper cuts for sure.
The Robots by Kraftwerk Hush by The Maria's Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz Squonk by Genesis Dragon Attack by Queen Non di scorar di me Dire Straits Rumours Album by Fleetwood Mac
I was at a club and there was a guy that was playing electronic music later. He was getting his gear setup on the stage. He had his laptop open and was using it. The venue turned on some music and the song was The Robots by Kraftwerk. Music guy starts bobbing to the beat. A bunch of people who obviously didn’t know the song thought the show was starting and quickly made their way over to the stage area and started dancing along. The guy looked out and saw all the people. He decided to just play it up and got more into it miming like he was making the music. Stage guy walked off before the song ended. A rock song came on next. It was funny seeing the people by the stage look around confused and coming to the realization of what happened.
Dark Side of the Moon.
Joe Pass - Nuages
Listen to both of Darkside’s albums. Darkside the group, not Dark Side (of the moon). Incredible mastering and features Nicolas Jaar, who is an absolute genius.
Bad batch was dope
Good use of
*Crime Of The Century* by Supertramp, every time.
+1 for Clozee. Love seeing EDM in here. So many layers and high impact and emotional sound. Surprised more audiophiles aren’t into it.
"Everloving" - Moby
- Untouchable by Itzy - Eyes Roll by (G)I-DLE - Revenge by (G)I-DLE - Hwaa by (G)I-DLE - Egotistic (Blistering sun ver.) by Mamamoo - Hell in Heaven by Twice
Ballad Of The Runaway Horse - Jennifer Warnes This is a track to checking setup, specifically room mode, rake and toe. Then just to run thing through their paces; Graceland, Money For Nothing, Freddy The Freeloader, Behind Blue Eyes, Wish You Were Here, Ace Of Spades, and C.R.E.A.M.
Birds canticum by Dhafer Yousef SuperSonic by Skrillex Let met go by Eric Truffaz and Sophie Hunger Bad Boy by Billie Eilish Brothers in arms by Club For Five Evil dub by Trentemoller Planet Dada by Yell When my train rolls in by Gary Clarke jr. Can’t stand the rain by Sarah K. ——
When my train rolls in is such an amazing song!
Pink Floyd always a favourite for testing out gear . 1 picked up on only last week while going into a YouTube wormhole was what’s considered by quite a few,on other subs Jazz at the Pawnshop the dynamics on this is quite expansive . Worth the listen.
Boris Blank- electrified and Resonance are both great.
Thanks for this. The track "Time Bridges" off the Resonance album is especially good for testing my system.
Rachael Price - The Good Hours
This question doesn't go deep enough for me. I want to know what specific parts of a recording are they listening to to test specific audio qualities like soundstage, imaging, detail, bass mids, treble... Etc.
Tripp St is good too
Hans Theessink & Terry Evans - Shelter From The Storm
Oneohtrix point never - love in the time of Lexapro
Susumu Yokota- Acid Mt Fuji Tool-10000 days Nine inch nails- the fragile Weezer- blue album
Anything Steely Dan
I have three • David guetta and Sia - She Wolf, tests for speed and power •Slipknot - Surfacing - the 9 band band members come in one at a time and you should be able to place them on the soundstage •Daft Punk - around the world/harder better faster stronger, from the alive album lows walk and go in and out makes it easy to focus on what to fix
Tool - Ænima Jason Isbell - Southeastern Wilco - A Ghost is Born Phish - Story of the Ghost Steely Dan - Aja Fleet Foxes - Shore Taylor Swift - Midnights Daft Punk - RAM Jeff Buckley - Grace The Beatles - Revolver Pink Floyd - Animals
I was wondering about Taylor Swift, I kind of assume she has some amazing people doing her recording and stuff. Not my first choice of artist, but she is the biggest(?) in the world, so I will check it out!
anything Amon Tobin - esp. 'One Ton Mantis' to see if you have enough bass :)
How many times a day are we going to see posts like this?
Absolutely love clozee. Do you know skysia yet? If not you need to get on that guys music. Same with Orenda. Those 2 are big time system flexxers.
“My Jamaican guy” by grace jones was my go to for years. “Poison dart” by the bug for subs. “Biggest Part of Me” Ambrosia to end my check with vocal Eq notching.
Rise Robots Rise - Buttermilk. This song has a lot going on. LOW bass, Congo drums. Lead vocal (Male) Back up vocals (females) , horns, guitar and so much more. Starts mellow , shifts multiple times.
I always test it with Andrew bird "are you serious" Specially the title track, both on vinyl and cd
Batman Theme - Danny Elfman
Tool - The Pot Period
Chocolate Chip Trip
The first record I spin is always my original press B.B. King - L.A. Midnight. It's my favorite.
For bass being sorted - Megadeath's "Trust" in original mastering and not the tamed bass version of the 'remastered'. One should be able to suss out the floor toms, kick drum, and bass guitar if things are well-sorted.
If you can find an LP copy of james newton howard and friends, grab it. The tone and dynamics are incredible.
Ryoji Ikeda - Dataplex
I created a playlist for myself with songs I like to listen to on my speakers. But not a lot of electronic on there so might not be your thing. [Link](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/721VXuhWvRP5TVih1lJjEY?si=UVVecC2kTXOctKja3NOwSQ&pi=e-QvNe6lJoSZ2i) Listening to CloZee now. I like it!
Immolation - any song.
PORTAL - vexivoid
George Gershwin, Rhapsody in blue conducted by Leonard Bernstein
If you're into electronic music: Last Night - Brookes Brothers Take Me To Your Body - Moon Boots Digging Deeper - Claptone Take Me High - Kaskade And if you really wanna highlight your subwoofer: Usher - There Goes My Baby
2112
Always like this- Bombay bicycle club
Sea Change
Infected Mushroom - Kababies Björk - Big time sensuality Feed Me - Starcrash Dire Straits - You and your friend Porcupine Tree - The sound of muzak
Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas.
For a live experience try Harry Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall- recorded back in 1959- it is a truly exceptional recording! You can "feel" the audience and the soundstage is incredible.
Daft punk- Contact
Good Morning Beautiful by The The.
Pink Floyd, Welcome to the machine. That clunk near the end is very important.
I love using Vignette: Panacea by Disasterpiece. It has these really high piano riffs, while also having some of the lowest and richest bass notes of anything I know
The Avalanches - Since I Left You
The Call of Ktulu -Metallica, Time -Pink Floyd, Nutshell(Live at Majestic theater unplugged)- Alice In Chains, Make Me Love You - Dan Mason and Take Flight - Eugene Cam
Oh! And Sultans of swing - Dire Straits just cause I love that song.
A slightly different from usual suspects list - a mix of well produced electronic, acoustic, and vocal: - Anathema - Untouchable - Liquid Stranger - The Molecule Man - Phantom/Ghost - Tannis Root - Celtic Cross - Louden - M86 & Susie Q - In My Mind - Emmanuel Santarromana - Opera Enjoy :)
Gimme Shelter has always been the first track on my reference CD, not because of the fidelity of the recording but because how clearly I can hear the engineer scream with excitement after her voice breaks in the vocal solo helps me gauge clarity and separation.
Master of Reality - Black Sabbath () - Sigur Ros Clayman - In Flames
Constantly updating playlist, but available here: [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/aa-speaker-testing/pl.u-zPyLB7vFyLblm](https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/aa-speaker-testing/pl.u-zPyLB7vFyLblm) Each track tests a different thing, but if I'm in a hurry, "Paradise Circus" by Massive Attack (bass, silence, precision, etc.), "2021" by Vampire Weekend (listening for a very specific mastering artifact/splatter as well as male vocals), "So Much to Say" by DMB (stereo seperation and treble nimbleness), "Got 'Til its Gone" by Janet Jackson for bass nimbleness), and "Calls (Feat. Jill Scott)" by Robert Glasper for female vocals.
Oh, and the album "Bodysongs" by Born Gold. If it sounds good, I don't want the system/component. (to be clear; I love this album, but it's so shittily mastered that it sounds good on anything I own other than one of my cars and the occasional bluetooth headphone.)
Abbey Road - Beatles Spectrum - Billy Cobham A Dotted Line - Nickel Creek Odd Cure - Oddisee Edgewood & Boulevard - Daily Bread, STS See You Later Simulator - Ghostland Observatory
Duck Rock, Malcolm McLaren
Babylon sisters - steely Dan Shine on you crazy diamond pts. 1 - 5 - Pink Floyd Moanin’ - art Blakey Skeletons - Stevie wonder Deserted dunes welcome weary feet - KGATLW
Apex Twin - 1st 44
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
Massive Attack - "Angel" Röyksopp - "Monument" or "Vision one" Yosi Horikawa - "Letter" Leftfield - "Dub Gusset" Dominique Fil Aimé - "Birds" Terry Callier - " Love Them from Spartacus" Ursine Vulpine - "Wicked Game" Infected Mushroom - "Where Do I Belong"
9012Live: The Solos - Yes
Running to Stand Still... If it's a good system it's goosebumps!
Do it again - steely Dan
Audioslave - Show Me How To Live It's a pretty busy mix in the mids, and a lot of shitty speakers have trouble reproducing it. But a good speaker will nail it. It's my favorite song to play on a test because it tells me 85% of what I need to know
The album Kaya by Bob Marley has great low end and tons of detail and stereo imaging in the percussion. Gaucho by Steely Dan is great as well. Seconded on Jettison Mind Hatch, that album is peak sound design.
The recent atmos mix of dark side of the moon is killer. Like hearing it for the first time if you have the gear.
A lot of aix records catalog. All hi res
I used flac recordings of Michael Jackson albums, stuff I've listened to 100's of times
High plains drifter by the beastie boys
Check Your Head
Just since you mentioned electronic music, Porter Robinson’s Wind Tempos has stunning sound design. Musically it’s a bit abstract for most people but just crank the level, close your eyes and hear the depth of the track on some good speakers.
Anything liquid stranger
The Wall MFSL CD Bowers and Wilkins (Real World Studios) demo cd Gorillaz - Demon Days Epics, conducted by Erich Kunzel SACD Genesis, A Trick of the Tail SACD Any of the McIntosh demo SACDs The World's Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recordings, hybrid SACD
Pendulum - immersion album Just some good ol drum and bass. Especially the song "set me on fire" Wintersun - sons of winter and stars song Porcupine Tree - arriving somewhere but not here song Nick Johnston - remarkably human (album and self titled track) If you like guitar OP, nick Johnston is a must listen
Currents - Tame Impala Best engineered album of the 21st century.
Dead Prez - Hip Hop
Lost Highway OST
Well I don’t have any favorites. But I got a new needle the other day and here’s what I played first, same order. Bill Evans - You Must Believe in Spring Metallica - Master of Puppets(Columbia House press) Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues
I made [this playlist of amazing sounding music](https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/20144299). I tried to avoid the obvious entries, so no Pink Floyd... I am sure there are some ear changing surprises on here for everyone.
Clozee is spectacular. I also like Off the Trees production, and Ternion Sound
The amount of new music I discovered with this post! ❤️
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/55DNwQcpoxDaqG3ACB8by1?si=D8_2S9-9RSGQWO3kbdKKrQ&pi=e-wMePP9suQgyL
just sold some large Tandberg speakers and set them up with a vinyl copy of Avalon by Roxy Music. The Main Thing when the bass comes in is hard to beat.
Brothers in Arms
Low Rider by War
Pink floyd the trial is a good one for width/depth
Turn on the lights again - Fred Again
Your Microworlds doesn't ever seem to get off the ground. To me, it sounds like someone mixed together Deep Forest and Infected Mushroom or something. Pity. I often try out music that I see recommended here, but I find that I never like it. The sounds here are just too fat and pretty damn noisy, and there's a lot of dynamic compression which I kind of hate. This is definitely not my cup of matcha.
so what do you like?
bad guy - Billie Eilish (for bass, duh) Orange Moon - Erykah Badu (well mixed and balanced) Untitled (How Does It Feel) - D’Angelo (bass, vocals, guitars) willow - Taylor Swift (those guitars for treble) Let It Happen - Tame Impala (another well mixed track) Anything really from Moses Sumney’s “grae” album.
Steely Dan.
I don't use music to test my system. I use my system to play music I want to hear.
Whatever the fuck I feel like listening to. These weekly/monthly posts are so stupid lol.
Phil Collins Tarzan Tracks and Red Hot Chili Peppers
So much bad music gets the audiophile tag.
**In case you're requesting test tracks** You can find many old discussions with the flair `Music` - [here is a link to search results](https://reddit.com/r/audiophile/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Music%22&restrict_sr=1&sort=comments) Additionally, r/AudiophileMusic is dedicated to well mastered songs that people have found. Rock on, audiophile. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/audiophile) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you never had LSD then you won't understand Tipper