Best Songs to Test Speakers

[bigfish786]

i've sort of got a few certain cd's to listen to, to evaluate performance as they are cd's i listen to on a regular basis, so know them intimately.

Prong- Cleansing

Stone Sour - Audio secrecy

Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time

Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss

Helmet - Meantime

Megadeth - Rust in Peace

Machine Head - The Blackening

Pantera - Cowboys from Hell

that usually does the trick.

 

[hone_u2]

Einstürzende Neubauten

All songs in the compilation Strategies Against Architecture are amazing to listen to! You should try it! 😀

 

[Tear Drop]

Pan Sonic - Virta 1./Current 1. (from Katodivaihe/Cathodephase)

Monolake - Static (from Gravity)

Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Kaneda (from Akira soundtrack)

bvdub - It Was Going To Be So Easy (from Stangers No More)

Christoph De Babalon - What You Call A Life (from If You're Into It, I'm Out Of It)

Colleen - Geometría Del Universo (from The Weighing Of The Heart)

Gas - track 3 from Gas (original, not from Nah Und Fern reissue)

Wagner - Vorspiel (from Das Rheingold, Solti/VPO or Böhm/Bayreuth are both great)

Mukta - anything from Indian Sitar & World Jazz

Point 7 - DNA Conflict (from What?)

 

[skippy]

Joan Armatrading - Love and Affection

 

[craig978]

The xx - islands

REM - Texarkana

Hayley westernra - pokarekare ana

radiohead - subterranean homesick alien

all quite different these songs but give a broad test I think.

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi CnE

Thanks.

Please try -

The way - Instrumental (Zack Hemsey)

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

It's always good to get good tips....goes on wish list.

:cheers:

 

[steve_1979]

One of our current favourites, a real variety one here, to test any system:

+1

Music that jumps out of the speakers at you. Some really great bass lines. I'm a big fan of Parov Stellar. I don't like the electro-jazz that he does but his electro-swing stuff is brilliant. Here's a good playlist of his:

http://open.spotify.com/user/steve_1979/playlist/6hidhcyXyGWq6PyevD0Rf9

 

[BigH]

A new one I discovered yesterday Malia - Black Orchid, jazzy vocals, well recorded, good DR. Try track Don't Explain very wide soundstage and Baltimore.

 

[gazmend]

As someone mentioned listen to the songs you usually listen to. If there is one song you know well, then play that on and decide for yourself. This is how i found mine. Every detail was on those speakers i listened to. Fantastik. Btw i used Human legacy by Ivan torrent to test them. Then michael jackson

 

[busb]

Although I find such questions a little odd (it seems obvious to take along the music you like & are familiar with), I'd add my recommendation to take at least one that's poorly recordered - it's all very well listening to great recordings but I would want to know how a prospective purchase handles poor stuff as well.So take along a CD that's bright &/or compressed.

 

[BigH]

Although I find such questions a little odd (it seems obvious to take along the music you like & are familiar with), I'd add my recommendation to take at least one that's poorly recordered - it's all very well listening to great recordings but I would want to know how a prospective purchase handles poor stuff as well.So take along a CD that's bright &/or compressed.

Yes thats good advise. I would also take a wide range, some speakers can be great with certain type of music but poor on other types, ie great with vocals but can't control bass. Or the drums cymbals are splashy or too forward etc.

 

[Sospri]

Just came across a track that is excellent for testing speakers -

Steeleye Spans - Fighting for strangers.....................

 

[Roywalker]

Some great taste in music shown here. Top drawer sir.

also try Gaiser, Villalobos...

 

[Vladimir]

Here is a different take on testing speakers or any bit of kit. If it can't make you enjoy Idris Muhammad - Power of Soul in absolute awe, then walk away.

No, run!

Idris Muhammad - Piece Of Mind - Power of Soul (1974)

 

[Vladimir]

I thought I'd add these.

For vocals and string instruments.

David Philips - A Sailor's Song - Live Uit Lloyd Radio Session

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1YAp_465Kk

For the rhytm section.

Paal Nilssen-Love - Kongsberg Jazzfestival - 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gKY2riIgcg

 

[rich51080]

Here are my recommendations - These tracks will test treble, bass and also how rhytmic your system is.

Pop music

1. Madonna - Like a Prayer -

2. Michael Jackson - Thriller

3. Prince - When Doves Cry

Rock/Metal

1. Metallica - Nothing Else Matters

2. Pantera - Cemetery Gates

3. Faith no More - Real Thing

Indie/ Grunge

1. R.E.M - Orange Crush

2. Automatic - Monster

3. Pearl Jam - Jeremy

 

[Electro]

I thought I'd add these.

For vocals and string instruments.

David Philips - A Sailor's Song - Live Uit Lloyd Radio Session

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1YAp_465Kk

For the rhytm section.

Paal Nilssen-Love - Kongsberg Jazzfestival - 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gKY2riIgcg

I love the David Philips ! in fact I have just bought a copy of December Wine from Amazon :cheers:

 

[peterpiper]

Here is a different take on testing speakers or any bit of kit. If it can't make you enjoy Idris Muhammad - Power of Soul in absolute awe, then walk away.

No, run!

Idris Muhammad - Piece Of Mind - Power of Soul (1974)

love that 8)

I have discoverd some good music on this thread thats new to me, via spotify

 

[Vladimir]

That particular recording of David Philips is very special. Tons of mics arround him, no processing that will take the life out of the live recording. It's much like Nils Lofgren - Keith Don't Go. Even through youtube processing the strings sound so lifelike, present right there with you.

Another recommend for Hugh Masekela - STIMELA (The Coal Train). A friend said hearing it through a pair of B&W Nautilus was a life changing experience. Also a well a very sad and touching theme in the song will make you feel a bit more human.

Cheers guys. Glad you dig the tunes. :wave:

 

[gpi]

I went to a speaker demo today at my local dealers. I took along every record in this thread and got thrown out after four hours. He said he had to go home.

 

[Vladimir]

Welcome to the club gpi!

 

[Vladimir]

DALI Loudspeakers presents

Josefine Cronholm | IBIS

Wild Garden

http://www.dali-us.com/en-US/The-DALI-CD/Josefine-Cronholm.aspx

 

[Electro]

DALI Loudspeakers presents

Josefine Cronholm | IBIS

Wild Garden

http://www.dali-us.com/en-US/The-DALI-CD/Josefine-Cronholm.aspx

I have to say Vladimir , you have superb musical taste 🙂

 

[Vladimir]

Thank you so much Electro. I appreciate the kind words. :wave:

 

[BigH]

DALI Loudspeakers presents

Josefine Cronholm | IBIS

Wild Garden

http://www.dali-us.com/en-US/The-DALI-CD/Josefine-Cronholm.aspx

Just playing now, its pretty good, never heard of her before, not what I expected either.