Camille Saint-Saens -- Symphony No. 3 (The Organ) Aaron Copland -- Fanfare for the Common Man Igor Stravinsky -- Suite from The Firebird Richard Strauss -- Also Sprach Zarathustra Ferdi Grofe -- Grand Canyon Suite Virtually any good pipe organ recording Virtually any good recording of solo acoustic guitar Virtually any good recording of solo piano Virtually any good recording of solo female voice A really good bagpipe recording (really!)
[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 09-27-2010).]
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12:43 PM
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
I second DSOTM. Also, Rush's Tom Sawyer is pretty good, its got the high synth stuff and the mean drums and bass and it is a pretty clean recording. I also like to use a lot of Supertramp. Norah Jones is good for the vocals, and also the piano and double bass....
"Fantastic Voyage"- the version by Coolio "Keep on Rolling By"- The Grateful Dead "Bass Solo" from Metallica's "Kill em All" "Renegade" By Styx (Great thump thump at the beginning) Mr Roboto, too. "Mercy Mercy Mercy" Cannonball Adderly "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" and "Sweat Leaf" by Black Sabbath "You dropped the Bomb on Me" The Gap Band "Rite of Spring" by Igor Stravinsky "LA Woman" The Doors
"Such Great Heights" by the Postal Service. The track bounces between left and right channels frequently in the beginning of the song, so it's an excellent song for setting up imaging.
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05:07 PM
MidEngineManiac Member
Posts: 29566 From: Some unacceptable view Registered: Feb 2007
"One" Creed - Overall warmup, deep, chesty male vocal, nice thump. "Sir Duke" Stevie Wonder - Cymbal fade is unbelievable, horn section "Getaway" Earth Wind and Fire - Separation of elements - this is a very thick song; bassline & horns "All In Your Mind" Mariah Carey - Her vocals; most everything else is synth, but when she reaches up toward the end, she shows her range "Not That Kind of Guy" Stryper - The double kicks are what I focus on here, as well as the rest of the drum set. Also vocals. "So What?" Miles Davis - Trumpet standout, especially when background hiss abates "Variations on the Canon by Johann Pachelbel" by George Winston - Solo piano. Lots of delicate tones, building to a crescendo "Every Breath You Take" The Police - Unbelievable timing (more difficult for the playback device) and the piano. "Some Like It Hot" Power Station - Unusually "large" recording, especially the drums, with well placed images of John Taylor, Andy Taylor and Robert Plamer "Russian Dance, Nutcracker Suite" Telarc Pressing - The percussion, way in the back to the left. Plus room ambiance. "Romeo and Juliet" Tchaikovski; Telarc Pressing - Several sections test the real bass capabilities of a speaker. In the quiet passages, you should be able to hear people shuffling and turning the pages of their music. "Romeo and Juliet" Stravinsky; Deutche Grammofone Pressing - "Montagues and Capulets" is a challenging bit for an amplifier, much less a speaker "We're All Alone" Bob James - a live track that highlights the various players in the band "Children of Sanchez" Chuck Mangione - the live version (Hollywood Bowl) is hard hitting and is a broad instrumental.
There are some others that I use that I can't think of right at the moment....
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08:31 PM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
For full system testing nothing can beat the opening for the Movie Top Gun right up to and including the opening song. It covers the entire sound spectrum from very low bass to very extreme high's. Blu-Ray or DVD with 5.1 surround fit the bill for testing.
Adjust the bass so that the entire room vibrates on notes/feeling it on your chest and set the high so that the jet engine wine is biting your ears till you can't stand it......then you'll know just what it's like to be on an aircraft carrier flight deck. If your system can accomplish all that sounding crystal clear without being muddy or breaking up, then you've got a really good system. It's also the closest thing I have experienced that duplicates my experiences on the flight deck.
When I'm dusting off my Bowers & Wilkins 800 speakers I always go for quality sound unlike my gf who's constantly punishing them with radio-buzz. I have a few DVD-audio discs and one that really stands out from the crowd is Mike Oldfields Voyager, it really gives me goosebumps. The audiophile-shop I bought my speakers at used this disc as their reference.
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09:03 AM
PFF
System Bot
Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
Awesome thread! I had never heard of Gorillaz!! Love them! Tony, what album is that song from? I want it!!
You guys have filled my 4 hours in this server closet with some great listening... My fav to test a stereo with is Pink Floyd Money. I just LOOOVE the opening to it!
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12:14 PM
DjDraggin Member
Posts: 2854 From: St Louis, MO. USA Registered: Feb 2003
Since this used to be my profession I have a folder full of reference material! I sold everything from Def-Tech, Martin Loag, B&W, Canton (which is what I have for a surround setup, and another NHT setup also) I won't get into amps but I'm sure you get the idea.. Back when I had money to burn, I had a Killer set of Thiel's *goosebumps* LOL! But some of my top ""sellers"" that I would run through the paces with audiophiles are..
Of Course the top gun opener (glad CK posted that!) and Every CD that Dream Theater, or Porcupine tree has put out..
This or ANYTHING from "Delirium" will wake up the senses
ANY "Jamiroquai", Space Cowboy and Canned Heat are excellent tracks to break in new drivers!
If you dig the Celtic stuff Check out the imports from Owl Records.."Dagda" is one of my all time favs!!
New Age? you can never go wrong with some "Yanni"!! Yes I said it.. lol!
Lately I've been on a "Flaming Lips" kick. they have some really demanding tracks for high end gear
Have some subs coupled to your system? give this a listen!
Remember the latest remake of "The time Machine" well this are those wild female vocals from it..
Can't forget Tool or NIN for something a lil heavier, which don't get me wrong. I play some INSANE death metal also! It sounds like a Huey overhead! LOL! Warning: This video contains WW2 material of a graphic and disturbing nature, and may not be suitable for all viewers. But its a great version!
Man this song makes me want to go play the drums right now!!!
and this is just the stuff I think you guys would enjoy! Which I hope you have.. I've sat here listening to every vid so I know I've enjoyed it!
And Last but not least you can NEVER go wrong with any pipe organ music from "Andrew Loyd Webber"! Phantom of the Opera anyone?
Ok just kidding.. here is your pipe organ music..
edit... Gotta send out a huge thanks to MEM for sparking memories of good days past. Chris LeDoux, This cowboys hat. I have a cowboy hat just like in that song, and I wear a black straw one just like that exterminator guy on tv when I'm working the concert scene, LOL. Man I've not heard that song in YEARS yet remember the words perfectly as if it was yesterday.
[This message has been edited by DjDraggin (edited 09-28-2010).]
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12:24 PM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27106 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
Steely Dan - Aja album Genesis - A Trick of the Tail album, first 3 songs (featuring Taurus bass pedals) Mannheim Steamroller - G Major Toccata from Fresh Aire 4 Sarah Brightman - In Paradisum/Eden from Eden album
[This message has been edited by fierobear (edited 09-28-2010).]
One other... If you happen to own Frank Zappa's "Does Humor Belong in Music?", check out "More Trouble Every Day".
Here's a clip from You Tube. Missing the quality, but you get the idea. Chad Wackerman's drumming is amazing.
I knew I liked you for a reason Raydar. I own that video, and I have to say it is one of the most outrageous things I have ever beheld. Good thing it was a cable special, that show is quite naughty.
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12:32 PM
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
I got to see them in concert a few years back when they were on tour. Now I can see one of their local shows at Universal any time I feel like. Music doesn't get any more extreme than when it is played with mallets.
[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 09-28-2010).]
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04:05 PM
PFF
System Bot
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
Ummmmmm they do sell actual testing CD's with various frequencies and wave forms that are used to determine the responsivness of your "system". But if your confortable throwing in some CD with music recoreded over 20 years ago on it, well more power to ya. Most people wouldn't be able to use the test CD's properly anyway so crank up your favorite CD and ajust till it sounds good to you. But what ever you do DO NOT use MP3's as their frequency rates are horribly compressed and generally dah suck.
[This message has been edited by turbotoad (edited 09-28-2010).]
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04:55 PM
Doug85GT Member
Posts: 9943 From: Sacramento CA USA Registered: May 2003
Streamline by Newton. Lots of bass and plenty of HIGH highs.
when testing JUST bass, 808 Tune Up (Bass Mekanik iirc) and Static Addict (Lil Wyte) are great. Late Night Tip (Three 6 Mafia) is another good one.
Lets Groove by EW&F is also another great one. Using my buddy's Taurus with two 12inch Kicker CVRs getting 500watts RMS each (with the port tuned 20hz too high....stupid stock Kicker box..), as a campfire-stereo, sounded like thunder from inside the house. loud, clean, deep. I have a few versions of the song, ranging from regular mp3 of normal size, to uncompressed files 80+megabytes, bass boosted versions, etc. The normal 320bitrate CD rip seems to be the best. Also gets weird looks from the ghetto black folks around town, hearing EW&F thumping down the road in a Taurus filled with 4 white dudes lol
i use lots of other songs regularly, but those are the only i can think of right now since i havent installed a new system in anyone's car for a long time.
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06:37 PM
htexans1 Member
Posts: 9115 From: Clear Lake City/Houston TX Registered: Sep 2001
Some very good Meatloaf and TSO songs that're all over the map, musically, too, I've got a CD around here somewhere with the specifc songs on it, wonder if I can find that....been a long time since I had anything new to test..
------------------ Nick www.naskie18.com GoogleTalk: naskie18 AIM: naskie18
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07:18 PM
Mytime Member
Posts: 741 From: Long Green,Md Registered: May 2003
Saw a couple of references to Dream Theater. I had never heard of them until my son got into listening to them. Took him this past summer to see them in concert outside of DC. They were opening for Iron Maiden. Should have been the other way around IMO. They were awesome. Any sound system that could reproduce that sound, gotta be awesome. (I couldn't hear right for a week)
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08:34 PM
Wichita Member
Posts: 20708 From: Wichita, Kansas Registered: Jun 2002
faaaaq, "Getaway" has a better bassline than "Let's Groove" and "feels" tighter. I like both songs, but I think "Getaway" is a better test. I also like "After the Love is Gone" for the vocals - very rich - and a great saxophone solo at the end.
Used to use Janet Jackson when I sold hifi, but it's almost all electronic. And, as an answer to Yanni, we sued to play Andreas Vollenwieder, which, back then, was his first album.
