Whats a good track too challenge your setup ?

[plastic penguin]

I rest my case, sorry PP

Don't expect everyone to like it, even I have to be in the mood to play. Going strictly on the OPs brief, it covers most areas of the brief.

By the way, they were a great live band. I first saw them when they supported Muse at the Brixton Academy in 2000. After that a mate and I followed them around the London club scene, so much so we used to meet them in a pub beforehand and they bought us drinks before each gig started.

 

[Gray]

Check your channels aren't reversed with this.
High cowbell left, bongos right.
For tonality, you need to be able discriminate between different sized bongo skins:

View: https://youtu.be/K0E2gU63E2o?t=133
OK, we've got a non-real instrument there in the form of a syntom

 

[Gray]

You MUST test with percussion
....I'll get my coat:

View: https://youtu.be/NiF3jgg4xPc?t=192

 

[James105]

Just played this and have to say along with all the recommendations in this thread that unless it's your particular taste in music it falls flat on its face. The only thing the recommended tracks have tested with me is my patience Just my opinion

So you're saying its all about the music? well I have to agree

 

[JDL]

I think you need more than one track to "challenge your setup".

 

[WayneKerr]

Check your channels aren't reversed with this.
High cowbell left, bongos right.
For tonality, you need to be able discriminate between different sized bongo skins:

View: https://youtu.be/K0E2gU63E2o?t=133
OK, we've got a non-real instrument there in the form of a syntom

Now that's my kind of test track

 

[WayneKerr]

So you're saying its all about the music? well I have to agree

Definitely James

There are so many recognised test tracks on various formats if you really want to test your system. A test track has to be well recorded so that probably dispenses with 99% of any popular music we listen to. I've always believed that a good test track probably resides in the classical music sector as they are generally well recorded with a wide range of instruments. For vocals, maybe opera.

 

[plastic penguin]

So you're saying its all about the music? well I have to agree

Concur. The music itself is the most important, hence why I've only given one example.

 

[matthewpianist]

I'll finally get to give the Triangles a run this weekend. I'm likely to make selections from the following albums:

Anathema - Weather Systems
Katherine Priddy - The Eternal Rocks Beneath
Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No.1 (Sviatoslav Richter)
Carlo Bergonzi - Operatic Recital
Brahms - German Requiem (Klemperer)
Brad Mehldau - Largo
Art Blakey - Lost Japanese recordings
Eagles - Desperado (probably towards the end, the Desperado/Doolin' Dalton reprise)

The real test will be whether I end up letting each album/recording play all the way through.

I've owned the non-powered Borea BR02 in the past and liked them very much, so I have high hopes.

 

[plastic penguin]

I'll finally get to give the Triangles a run this weekend. I'm likely to make selections from the following albums:

Anathema - Weather Systems
Katherine Priddy - The Eternal Rocks Beneath
Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No.1 (Sviatoslav Richter)
Carlo Bergonzi - Operatic Recital
Brahms - German Requiem (Klemperer)
Brad Mehldau - Largo
Art Blakey - Lost Japanese recordings
Eagles - Desperado (probably towards the end, the Desperado/Doolin' Dalton reprise)

The real test will be whether I end up letting each album/recording play all the way through.

I've owned the non-powered Borea BR02 in the past and liked them very much, so I have high hopes.

What Triangles are you testing, Matthew?

 

[matthewpianist]

What Triangles are you testing, Matthew?

Borea BR02BT. Triangle refer to them as active but more correctly they are powered. Set them up this afternoon, and so far so good. They're very musical and help to create a versatile but compact set-up. Will feedback more after the weekend.

 

[plastic penguin]

Borea BR02BT. Triangle refer to them as active but more correctly they are powered. Set them up this afternoon, and so far so good. They're very musical and help to create a versatile but compact set-up. Will feedback more after the weekend.

Wow. Something a tad different. Good luck.

 

[Edbostan]

To 'challenge' I've got plenty of test CDs with single tones and sweeps.
But it has to be about music - and real instruments for me.

I took a USB stick to a dealers with several tracks including this.
If a speaker hides the HF detail such as the bells, it's a no-go for me.
Kettle drum is a tester too....to be played loud:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLHMxFGqhIs

Many soundtracks for television and films are very well recorded. Stranger on the Shore by Acker Bilk does it for me. The purity of Acker's clarinet is magic

 

[Gray]

Now that's my kind of test track

You've got a 24/96 FLAC of it 😉

 

[Revolutions]

Listening to some indie records today & these both sprung to mind as good tracks to test. (Also brilliant eps if you want to hear these two in a different light from their albums.)

View: https://youtu.be/hGACZIkv-JM

View: https://youtu.be/XK11JHn3FFw

 

[JDL]

Wow. Something a tad different. Good luck.

Can I ask what's the difference between powered and active?

 

[Al ears]

Can I ask what's the difference between powered and active?

Not unless you are deliberately trying to derail this thread.
Please start a new one....

 

[plastic penguin]

Check your channels aren't reversed with this.
High cowbell left, bongos right.
For tonality, you need to be able discriminate between different sized bongo skins:

View: https://youtu.be/K0E2gU63E2o?t=133
OK, we've got a non-real instrument there in the form of a syntom

Certainly my bag. Loved Herbie, and the likes of Count Basie and Quincy Jones.

 

[JDL]

Not unless you are deliberately trying to derail this thread.
Please start a new one....

Of course I'm not "deliberately trying to derail this thread". It would of required just a simple answer. Never mind forget it.

 

[JDL]

When I want to test a setup, I always listen to the album "Gong Live etc". I listen to this fantastic album and wait for the track "Isle of Everywhere". This song also appears on one of their studio albums "Gong You". I don't expect many people here to have heard it, and perhaps to even be willing to listen to it. However, the interaction between the award winning drummer Pierre Moerlen and the bassist Mike Howlett, the absolutely sublime saxophone playing of Didier Malherbe along with Steve Hillage on Guitar. It's very rare in my listening experience and opinion, to hear a band 'gel' with each other the way these guys did in 1974. And of course, we mustn't forget the instigator and band leader David Allen, of Soft Machine originally. He was the man that supplied the creative direction and impetus of their unusual and magical sound. There's no band on earth that was quite like them before or since. I never tire of listening to them. Sublime in my opinion.

 

[JDL]

The best gateway album into system testing with Gong, is "Gong You". The "Anniversary Edition" includes a second live recording that's an absolute riot. You could also try 1977 "Floating Anarchy" recorded live with the "Here and Now" band. I challenge anyone and everyone to test their systems with Gong. But.......make sure to turn the volume up!!

 

[WayneKerr]

The best gateway album into system testing with Gong, is "Gong You". The "Anniversary Edition" includes a second live recording that's an absolute riot. You could also try 1977 "Floating Anarchy" recorded live with the "Here and Now" band. I challenge anyone and everyone to test their systems with Gong. But.......make sure to turn the volume up!!

Do you need to be smoking something whilst listening to this, John?

 

[Jasonovich]

This will really test your system. Inspired by Led Zeppelin.

Black Dog (Inspired by Led Zeppelin)

Available in DSD only at NativeDSD thanks to our signature Higher Rates Program.

www.nativedsd.com

 

[Jasonovich]

In terms of Chill factor this is a great track, honestly though, the person who put this rig together is a genius

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b0Rbb9RtxL0?feature=share

 

[hifi]

Playing this right now ! had a chance too let the Amp warm a bit .now i know its a good set up with my ears .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugGC3ZQjXls