YOUR favourite reference track

[Vino Collapso]

2 come to mind:

Bruce Cockburn - Beautiful creatures (from Life short call now)
John Mayer - The heart of life - (from Continuum)

 

[Mullardman]

Will Young - Leave Right Now.

Clean and well recorded.

What?..

 

[sazalirazak]

Joan Armatrading - Me Myself

This together with the Motels 'Total Control' was the vogue in the late 70's
early 80's. for reference.
Now, where did l put those albums!?

Exactly what my favourite record seller told me ...

http://contented.cc/2014/06/singapore-vinyl-record-store-owner-hates-hipsters/

 

[lrt1367]

Anarchy In The UK or Pretty Vacant by the Sex Pistols, Ive used this a few times at high end dealer demonstrations and the look on the guys face is priceless, they are also very good tracks

That would be fun

 

[Thetiminator]

Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust
Norah Jones - One Flight Down
JJ Grey & Mofro- King Hummingbird
Katie Melua & Eva Cassidy- What a wonderful world
Michael Jackson - Ben
Shirley Bassey- Big spender

They just about cover all the bases. The surprise is hey big spender, a stunning recording...

 

[TheDecameron]

http://963cruz.com/blogs/cruz/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ethel-merman-disco-album.jpg

 

[oceanobsession]

I normally use either Patricia Barber Cafe Blue ( 1st Track - I've mentioned to friends over and over, you could play this record on a boom box and it would still sound nice ) or Isao Suzuki Quartet - Blow Up ( track - Aqua Marine ) to test out systems bass response as well as their abilities to respond to warmth along with nimbleness of said notes. Regards, Oscar

I have to agree but I like a taste of honey its so well recorded its great.

 

[337alant]

I have to agree but I like a taste of honey its so well recorded its great.

I have to agree and have just recorded it onto R2R as part of a compilation of Favourite tracks
However that said this CD is recorded at a very low level so I had to EQ it up a lot to get it up to a normal listening level of the other tracks
Note I don't listen to LOUD compressed music.

Alan

 

[Maxbertola]

The whole of Alone together (Konitz, Haden, Mehldau), a few tracks of Pop Pop (Ricky Lee Jones), The book of leaves (Rachel Grimes). The latter is a surprising recording, because it seems to change enormously depending on the gear used, much more than most recordings.

 

[lrt1367]

AC/DC - Riff Raff

If your system rocks this will show it

 

[Gaius]

AC/DC - Riff Raff

If your system rocks this will show it

I agree, I often use AC/DC as a tester. In the same vein Lil' Devil by The Cult.

 

[lrt1367]

I agree, I often use AC/DC as a tester. In the same vein Lil' Devil by The Cult.

Agreed, another great track, DC needs to project & drive as do the cult so a great test to see if your system can handle this. Needs to be played loud which is another good test of your systems power handling.

 

[PhilCTTE]

Agree with both of the above ..ACDC Cult. Wild Flower by the cult. Bit of Leftfield for bass

 

[lrt1367]

BT - Never gonna come back down, this track will test if your system can handle dance music & bass slam, if your sitting down when this is played loud your system is doing something very wrong.

 

[ledzep68]

Massive Attack - Unfinished Symphony

 

[lrt1367]

Massive Attack - Unfinished Symphony

I think you meant unfinished "sympathy" but yes another good test track as is teardrop

 

[tonerei]

Will dig out the track later but Archie Shepp. Very special saxophonist for test tracks worth checking out.

Found it! 'The Thrill is Gone' magical track

 

[mg_sounds]

I look at about 2-5 tracks for any new testing, but how many do we need..

 

[wainwj]

Laura Marling - Failure

Tells me almost all I need to know. It's simplicity allows me to focus on any differences in tone and there is a surprising amount of bass that I have heard some speakers really struggle to define at volume in my room.
I'll then put on a high tempo, complex track from someone like Arcade Fire, Raconteurs or Gorillaz to see how the system keeps up and seperates all the individual parts.

 

[smoking-rob]

To check my record player for tracking and w&f and cartridge for correct allignment: Joan Armatrading Love by you, for overall system clarity and speed, Barry Gibb Lesson in Love (vinyl track played to death now). Also recommended for "hifi-ness" are Olivia Newton-John albums Physical (someone hit the loudness button on the first track Landslide!) and Soul Kiss (impressive sounding!)