CDs to make your system sing!

[strapped for cash]

I'm taking delivery of a Teac PD-H600 CD player on Tuesday. I broke the golden rule and didn't audition (this was impossible for geographical reasons). However, I've read fantastic things about the CDP:

http://www.amazon.com/TEAC-PD-H600-Reference-Series-Player/product-reviews/B007RUQN98

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=392426

http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/teac_pd_h600.htm

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/teac-pd-h600-cd-player-and-ag-h600nt-stereo-receiver-tas-201-1/

I contacted a few dealers that list the 600 for sale on their websites, only to discover they have no stock. When I finally managed to track one down, the price was too good to pass up. Perhaps I won't get on with it, but it seemed a worthwhile, very calculated risk.

I know what my go-to demo CDs are, but I'm also open to suggestions from musos that frequent this forum on CDs that'll really make my system sing. Consider no genre or era off limits.

Thanks all...

 

[BigH]

I would not take your best sounding cds, that will not test the system so well. Why do you think hifi dealers pay really well recorded music? To make their system sound great.

Sure you can take some, one I have just got which is probably the best recording I have got is Collin Walcott's, Cloud Dance.

I would take some others that don't sound so great on your current system and see if they are much improved.

What sort of music do you like?

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra - Solti/Chicago SO

Clear Spot - Captain Beefheart & Magic Band

Prairie Wind - Neil Young

West Side Story - Andre Previn

Surf's Up - David Thomas & Two Pale Boys

Remain In Light - Talking Heads

Tusk - Camper Van Beethoven

Hot Shots II - The Beta Band

Luna - The Aliens

Scratch My Back - Peter Gabriel

Elysium - Pet Shop Boys

Gaucho - Steely Dan

Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys

To name but thirteen.

 

[strapped for cash]

Thanks for the advice.

My CD collection largely comprises late-1960s countercultural/folk music and early UK dance (quite different, I know). Both define my youth in different ways. I grew up listening to the former and happened to be in my teens when the rave scene emerged. I've perhaps become inflexible in my tastes and it's probably a suitable moment to think more broadly.

I can't do thrash metal, or anything veering in that direction. Apologies to true metal heads, it's just not my thing. I'm perfectly happy listening to blues. I'm not sure how much scope that gives people in terms of suggestions.

In terms of less-than-stellar recordings to test the CDP, I can always give Surrealistic Pillow a spin...

 

[strapped for cash]

Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra - Solti/Chicago SO

Clear Spot - Captain Beefheart & Magic Band

Prairie Wind - Neil Young

West Side Story - Andre Previn

Surf's Up - David Thomas & Two Pale Boys

Remain In Light - Talking Heads

Tusk - Camper Van Beethoven

Hot Shots II - The Beta Band

Luna - The Aliens

Scratch My Back - Peter Gabriel

Elysium - Pet Shop Boys

Gaucho - Steely Dan

Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys

To name but thirteen.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've heard precisely none of these albums, though of course the names are (mostly) not unfamiliar. I've got some investigating to do!

 

[atticus]

Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scotts

 

[strapped for cash]

Thanks Atticus. I might enjoy that. I'll see how I get on with a few audio samples before buying.

 

[BigH]

If you want modern blues, well recorded I don't think you can do much better than Eric Bibb's Deeper in the Well album, I think it is a DSD recording but his early albums are well recorded.. You could also try Ali Farka Toure's Talking Timbuktu with Ry Cooder, sort of blues/world music. In fact Ali Toure is known as the John Lee Hooker of Africa.

Aja - Steely Dan is very good recording, Gaucho is a bit mixed depends which cd pressing you get.

Eva Cassidy Live at Blues Alley is pretty good and is some blues.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Kate Bush - The Red Shoes is one of my faves for auditioning new hifi.

My local dealer in Aberdeen used to say "yes, that is a difficult one", so I must have been onto something.

"Eat The Music" for both musical complexity and punchy not flabby bass, "The Buildings of New York" for scale and "oomph factor".

Bach's Fuge and Tocatta in G Minor by any good organist on a good organ for full scale and gravitas.

Beethoven's "Fur Elise" for piano, 9th Symphony "Ode to Joy" for gravitas.

REM "Automatic for the People" for pop, maybe anything by the B-52s equally.

There's a couple of Rush and REM albums from the 2000s that are notorious for their BAD production, especially the REM ones, which all seemed mixed for the dreaded MP3 player and earbuds. See how good (or bad) those sound as well.

 

[BigH]

Kate Bush - The Red Shoes is one of my faves for auditioning new hifi.

My local dealer in Aberdeen used to say "yes, that is a difficult one", so I must have been onto something.

"Eat The Music" for both musical complexity and punchy not flabby bass, "The Buildings of New York" for scale and "oomph factor".

Bach's Fuge and Tocatta in G Minor by any good organist on a good organ for full scale and gravitas.

Beethoven's "Fur Elise" for piano, 9th Symphony "Ode to Joy" for gravitas.

REM "Automatic for the People" for pop, maybe anything by the B-52s equally.

There's a couple of Rush and REM albums from the 2000s that are notorious for their BAD production, especially the REM ones, which all seemed mixed for the dreaded MP3 player and earbuds. See how good (or bad) those sound as well.

REM - New Adventures in Hifi is very good recording I think.

For 70s rock, I always take Little Feat's Last Record Album, track 2, All That you Dream will test the woofers to see if they can handle bass guitar, one set of speakers the woofers turned to jelly even at low volume, the dealer said it must be the recording, maybe but others speakers can handle it fine.

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi SFC, my suggestions are based on the quality of the recordings:

Yello "Essential"

Gorrilaz "Plastic Beach"

Rodrigo y Gabriella "Re Foc"

Ott "Blumenkraft"

Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa "Don't explain"

Jacques Loussier "Jacques Loussier plays Bach" (Telarc)

Supertramp "Some things never change"

Holy Cole "Temptation"

Dave Brubeck "Time out"

Chet Atkins / Mark Knopfler "Neck and Neck"

Bob Dylan "Together through life"

 

[lindsayt]

Atomic Kitten - Feels So Good

Madonna - American Life

 

[strapped for cash]

Hi SFC, my suggestions are based on the quality of the recordings:

Yello "Essential"

Gorrilaz "Plastic Beach"

Rodrigo y Gabriella "Re Foc"

Ott "Blumenkraft"

Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa "Don't explain"

Jacques Loussier "Jacques Loussier plays Bach" (Telarc)

Supertramp "Some things never change"

Holy Cole "Temptation"

Dave Brubeck "Time out"

Chet Atkins / Mark Knopfler "Neck and Neck"

Bob Dylan "Together through life"

Thanks Cno.

I own many Dylan albums, but I never got round to hearing/buying "Together Through Life."

There are some albums suggested on this thread where I've no knowledge of the artists or their music. I'll consider it an enjoyable research project. A few hours googling should give me a good sense of which I'd like!

I'm also pretty excited to hear the Teac in action. It's not a brand audiophiles would typically place much faith in, but the trickle-down technology from Esoteric CDPs and effusive reviews suggest it'll be great. Some of my very best purchases have been slightly older mid-to-high-end kit at knock down prices.

 

[CnoEvil]

Thanks Cno.

I own many Dylan albums, but I never got round to hearing/buying "Together Through Life."

There are some albums suggested on this thread where I've no knowledge of the artists or their music. I'll consider it an enjoyable research project. A few hours googling should give me a good sense of which I'd like!

I'm also pretty excited to hear the Teac in action. It's not a brand audiophiles would typically place much faith in, but the trickle-down technology from Esoteric CDPs and effusive reviews suggest it'll be great. Some of my very best purchases have been slightly older mid-to-high-end kit at knock down prices.

If you find something you like, let me know........you'll find you know quite a few of the Yello tracks, as they are often used in films, ads and TV programs. It's quirky, brilliant and beautifully recorded.

 

[BigH]

If you want to hear some join spotify for free. Allmusic has reviews and samples to.

 

[strapped for cash]

Will do Cno, and BigH...

I think the sensible thing is to start with music I know really well. That way I'll gain a better understanding of what the new CDP does with it.

My research on this thread relates to potential future listening pleasures.

 

[iceman16]

Neil Cowley Trio - Displaced

 

[busb]

Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra - Solti/Chicago SO

Clear Spot - Captain Beefheart & Magic Band

Prairie Wind - Neil Young

West Side Story - Andre Previn

Surf's Up - David Thomas & Two Pale Boys

Remain In Light - Talking Heads

Tusk - Camper Van Beethoven

Hot Shots II - The Beta Band

Luna - The Aliens

Scratch My Back - Peter Gabriel

Elysium - Pet Shop Boys

Gaucho - Steely Dan

Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys

To name but thirteen.

It never occured to me that David Thomas did stuff outside of Pere Ubu - a big thanks!

To the OP - stuff other people's suggestions & take music you know well, both well-recordered & poor.

 

[damonster]

I stumbled across an old cd in the glove compartment of my car the other day .Radiohead . Kid A .May not be to everyone's taste but will sure give your system a good test .Some tracks may sound like a mass brawl with only instruments used as weapons .some tracks are stunning .big soundstage ,vast amount of musical instruments and sounds getting thrown at you from all directions.I might even slip into the straight jacket and give it another go in the morning . Good Luck !

 

[strapped for cash]

I own (and love) Kid A.

I actually prefer it to OK Computer, which tends to sit nearer the top of many "greatest ever albums" polls. I think it's an excellent test disc, too!

 

[strapped for cash]

I should probably also clarify (as per my original post) that I'm not auditioning a new CDP. I bought it already and it's being delivered tomorrow. I'm reallly looking for a few CDs to get the absolute best out of it futher down the line (and perhaps expand my musical horizons in the process).

Some interesting and useful suggestions so far. Thanks to all that have contributed and apologies that I haven't had time to reply to all posts.

 

[BigH]

One I came across the other day is Mari Boine, a norwegian from the far north, her albums are well recorded, 8 Seasons is a bit too electronic for me but her Balvvoslatjna or Gula Gula are more acoustic. For more ideas have a listen to Radio Paradise online.

Also try John Hiatt Bring the Family album.

Female vocals try Kathleen Edwards, Catie Curtis, Patty Griffin and Thea Gilmore.

Male vocals try Ray LaMontagne and Damien Rice.

 

[theo12]

Hi Strapped

One remaster I have found to sound brilliant is Talk Talk The Colour Of Spring. Recorded at Abbey road, the production sounds absolutely amazing and on the first track you get piano, double bass and lush orchestral strings, which make for a great test.

I also recommend the 2009 remaster of Kraftwerk The Man Machine, this version of The Robots is simply the best and will test bass response rather nicely.

Have fun with your new toy.

Regards

Theo12

 

[Covenanter]

Five from the classical world:

Greig Songs - Anne Sofie Von Otter / Bengt Forsberg - A Gramophone record of the year it is simply beautiful; one of the greatest recordings of solo singing ever made.

Tallis - Spem In Alium - There are lots of excellent versions but the Naxos version is cheap and good!

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture - Mercury Living Presence (Recorded in 1958 it's still going strong - the live cannon are dramatic)

Dowland Lute Music - Nigel North on Naxos (any of the 4 volumes) - A real test for a hifi because it is so spare. Just a lute player in a room, the notes should be pure and emerge against silence (except for hearing the player's fingers moving on the strings).

Saint-Saens Organ Symphony (No 3) - Barenboim, Chicago SO - Lovely tunes and very exciting when the organ joins the ochestra. (I play it when my neighbours are out so that I can have it loud.)

Chris

 

[DocG]

Shelby Lynne – Just A Little Lovin'. The title track sounds amazing. It is so well recorded that the first time I heard the song, I swore that must have been what SACD was all about... Nope, plain Red Book, but excellently miked and mastered.

Joshua Redman – On The Sunny Side Of The Street. His debut album, from 1993. Saxophone jazz (in this song accompanied by the fantastic Christian McBride on double bass). Easy on the ears, and a great recording too.