The Ultimate Music/Movie Soundtracks to Test Sources, Amps and Speakers

[MUSICRAFT]

Over the years i have often been asked as to what soundtracks i use to test components.

One of the albums i often use is (i have also mentioned this elsewhere on the forum fairly recently) the Later After by DJ Hidden.

The Later After will have your amplifier and speakers begging for mercy.

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[VoodooDoctor]

I bought that DJ Hidden album and it is indeed mental.

I use the opening titles of Superman Returns (on HD-DVD) to demonstrate my system. Always goes down well.

 

[chebby]

The mash-up of "Every Breath You Take" by The Police and the theme from "Peter Gunn" in The Sopranos (series 3) episode "Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood".

"I love to Boogie" (Marc Bolan & T-rex) in 'Billy Elliot'. A superb recording.

The bit near the end of the episode "Two Cathedrals" from West Wing series 2, which is accompanied by Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms".

The whole of the episode "Father to the man" (and all the accompanying music) by Jonathan Meades.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't audition new equipment often, but have a cd's that I enjoy and use for testing and normally use the following tracks:

In my Secret life ... Leonard Cohen ... ten new songs

Come away with me ... Norah Jones ... Come away with me

and a new addition which i really enjoy: Baby I'm a fool ... melody gardot .. My one and only thrill

Tell me where the road is .... Guy davis ... chocolate to the bone

Tears in heaven ... eric clapton ... unplugged

My home is in the delta ... muddy waters ... folk singer

Boogie chillin ... John lee hooker/eric clapton ... The best of friends

Barricades of heaven ... jackson browne ... solo acoustic volume 1

electronic performers ... air ... 10 000Hz legend

the ballard of bill hubbard ... roger waters ... amused to death

fanfarra ... sergio mendes ... brasileiro

the wizard ... uriah heep ... demons and wizards

Purple rain ... prince and the revolution ... Purple rain

edit: .... OOPS! ... ... nearly forgot .... Voodoo chile ... Jimi Hendrix ... Electric ladyland

----------------------------

.... this is music I know really well, and if all of those tracks sound good .... I'm happy

 

[MattSPL]

I find Safri Duo, 'Played alive, the bongo song' a great test for hifi.

It is particularly good for testing midrange dynamic ability. When the music goes from dead quiet to a massive crescendo with the smack of drums in a split second. It makes you jump out your skin with the volume turned up on a good system.

 

[gbhsi1]

Radiohead's '15 steps' should give your system a workout.

 

[bretty]

I've too many test tracks for my lazy ass to type here, but my favourite is

Peter Gabriel - here comes the flood. Not the rubbish album version, with all it's eighties synth ruining it, though. It's the version on the 'Hits and Misses' greatest hits, with just Peter's voice and a piano.

 

[Anonymous]

Wild Wood (Paul Weller Greatest Hits)

Comfortably Numb (David Gilmour Live in Gdansk)

Tears in Heaven (Clapton on The Very Best of MTV Unplugged - IMHO, best version I've heard by a considerable distance)

 

[d_a_n1979]

Personally, for me, it has to be a range of music that I listen to generally.

Albums I usually use are:

Layo & Bushwacka - Night Works
Massive Attack - Heligoland
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Jethro Tull - The Best Of (Anniversary edition)
System of a Down - Toxicity
Sting - All This Time (Live edition)
Bob Sinclair - III
Finley Quaye - Maverick a Strike
Watchmen soundtrack

Main songs I use are:

Watchmen soundtrack - Hallelujah - Leonard Choen
Massive Attack - Splitting the Atom
Vampire Weekend - Run
Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses
System of a Down - Chop Suey
Finley Quaye - Sunday Shining/Even After All
Bob Sinclair - La Misique is Fantastique
Layo & Bushwacka - Love Story

 

[Pindi]

Leftfield - Afrika Shox.

The bass is ludicrously deep!!!

 

[Big Chris]

MoFi remaster of Faith No More's 'Angel Dust'.

It must sound good, even my Wife could tell the difference over the standard version in a back-to-back comparison.

 

[matengawhat]

just watched watchmen and have to say it was the biggest pile of rubbish i have seen since crank 2 which is actually at the top of my most hated list at the moment - i really struggled to get through the movie!

 

[d_a_n1979]

matengawhat:just watched watchmen and have to say it was the biggest pile of rubbish i have seen since crank 2 which is actually at the top of my most hated list at the moment - i really struggled to get through the movie!

Horses for Courses

 

[Anonymous]

A friend who owns a recording studio, recorded me on disc playing a piece of guitar music, one fingerstyle, the other using a pick.I know every note and chord, also every mistake, this is what i use when listening to new kit, as well as some nice sounding music of course.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

VoodooDoctor:I bought that DJ Hidden album and it is indeed mental. I use the opening titles of Superman Returns (on HD-DVD) to demonstrate my system. Always goes down well.

Hi VD

Yes, the Later After is indeed mental. Please try this - Chrono by SGNL FLTR.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Secret Rhythms by Burnt Friedman, Jaki Lieebezeit. Watch the bass drivers on your speakers move.

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Neil Cowley Trio - Radio Silence

I received this disc from Naim. The music and recording are excellent.

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[mitch65]

matengawhat:just watched watchmen and have to say it was the biggest pile of rubbish i have seen since crank 2 which is actually at the top of my most hated list at the moment - i really struggled to get through the movie!

I hope it's not I've been meaning to see it for ages!

 

[Sliced Bread]

MUSICRAFT:Hi VD

Giggles immaturely!

 

[shooter]

Pindi:
Leftfield - Afrika Shox.

The bass is ludicrously deep!!!

Leftfield made great bass.

They famously broke all decibel levels at Brixton academy in 1996 with segments of plaster falling of the ceiling onto the stage. Great stuff!

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Bent - Programmed To Love

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Journeyman by Bob Holroyd. A superbly well recorded track and a teriffic song too.

My overall reference track.

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Any Leftfield track is good, along with Massive Attack's 'Angel'.