Critical (Best) Music Tracks for Speaker and Room EQ Testing

[Liberal Democracy]

Anything by Rod Stewart.

 

[Sal1950]

Anything by Rod Stewart.

WHO

 

[Juhazi]

Actually I don't have any favourites, but The Eagles and Dire Straits are best audio quality pop/rock. Then some mono era soul or jazz and anything classical orchestra music! And of course solo piano and classical small ensemble with violin! And...

 

[3125b]

I have quite a sustantial playlist for critical music (and test tones).
I think it's important to not only use good sounding recordings, but also ones with flaws, to see how they stand out.
However, to list some good ones (just one per artist, there's often more):
Flim & The BB's - Jazz Patrol (huge dynamic range)
Babatunde Olatunji - Cosmic Rythm Vibrations (good dynamic range, lots of energy in the bass, binaural recording)
Ransom Wilson: Solisti New York - The Royal March (huge dynamic range, binaural recording)
Marianne Faithful - Working Class Hero (good dynamic range ... also, I like the song)
Steven Wilson - Personal Shopper (challenging for speakers)
Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (clean synth, shows sounding)
Kraftwerk - Metall auf Metall (very sharp yet clean)
Jennifer Warnes - Joan of Arc (somewhat similar to "Bird on a Wire", but I like the song better)
Melody Gardot - Same To You (lots of bass, mediocre dynamic range though)
Eagles - Hotel California - Live On MTV, 1994 (excellent live recording)
Jim Morrison + The Doors - The Ghose Song (honestly, the whole album is an experience)
Macy Gray - Annabelle (binaural recording)
Amber Rubarth - A Kiss to Build a Dream On (binaural recording, the whole album is awesome)
Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven (super clean female vocals)
Dire Straits - Once Upon A Time In The West (hard to choose just one, great studio recordings to this day)

 

[vavan]

I have quite a sustantial playlist for critical music (and test tones

Do you happen to have it as tidal playlist?
Btw recently filed another one, see https://www.avsforum.com/threads/my...xl-elac-emotiva-t2-more.3166156/post-60075013

 

[3125b]

Do you happen to have it as tidal playlist?

No, and unfortunately Tidal does't offer anything from Chesky (last time I checked, anyway).

 

[Harmonie]

I'm listening again to some of the CD's given away in the NRDS (French) audio magazine. The older ones 1993~1995 have really remarkable sound pick-ups, organs, strings, voices, percussions, you name it really you are there experience.
Some Chesky's are good²

 

[vavan]

Tidal does't offer anything from Chesky (last time I checked, anyway

Right, couldn't find it either

 

[carlob]

Right, couldn't find it either

Only "The Raven" by Rebecca Pidgeon

 

[3125b]

You might know the expressionless guy in the middle

 

[Martin]

If you're looking for bass notes nothing beats the 1812 Overture with real cannons with components down to 6Hz:

It's great on a good home theater system.

Martin

 

[North_Sky]

Essay ...

 

[North_Sky]

 

[ferrellms]

their list is very limited, though. it's basicly "easy listening"/"elevator music" only. there should be all types of music.

Yes, that is right, these folks are hung up on boomer antique stuff. My son and his friends are leaving the room now to check out some Shpongle.

 

[RichB]

Yes, that is right, these folks are hung up on boomer antique stuff. My son and his friends are leaving the room now to check out some Shpongle.

In the late 80's, popular CDs had much better dynamic range with less digital clipping than recent releases.
This is unfortunate and hopefully is improving. Focus on HD Audio and MQA are great marketing but the presence of ultrasonics are no substitute for a good master.

- Rich

 

[North_Sky]

Tentative (critical, very) ...

Check your limit, I mean your speaker's, your amp's and your audio cable's limit.
Can you go pass eleven without even blinkink; that'd be a fair test.

 

[North_Sky]

In the late 80's, popular CDs had much better dynamic range with less digital clipping than recent releases.
This is unfortunate and hopefully is improving. Focus on HD Audio and MQA are great marketing but the presence of ultrasonics are no substitute for a good master.

- Rich

You are referring to the LP, right? ...From the late 70s, very early 80s.

 

[North_Sky]

Yes, that is right, these folks are hung up on boomer antique stuff. My son and his friends are leaving the room now to check out some Shpongle.

I have to ask; what is "Shpongle"?

 

[RichB]

You are referring to the LP, right? ...From the late 70s, very early 80s.

Nope. It's recent history to some.
I threw out my turntable after CD's took hold and won't look back.
Now, QOBUZ works for me.

- Rich

 

[North_Sky]

Albums are selling well in 2020 ...

* Can they embed MQA into a LP music recording?