View Full Version : Which albums do you use to test new hifi kit?
Wakefield Turntables
28-07-2011, 19:11
I dont think i've seen a thread like this before so I thought i'd start it:)
Whenever i test a new deck, speakers, cables i usually take a stack of my own vinyl to look for specific qualities in possible new purchases, what albums do you take and why? Here's a few of my choics.
BASS - Bach's Tocatto and Fugue in B Minor, I dont have anything which goes any lower than this bass wise, it has some deep base pedal work.
GUITAR SOLO - Eruption, Eddie Van Halen, This track re-wrote how to play the guitar!
DOUBLE BASS DRUMS IN A DRUM KIT Anything from the Overkill album overkill
VOCAL INTIMACY - The Pearl album by Janice Joplin
PROG COMPLEXITY - Try the Systemic Chaos album by Dream Theater
SCREAMING VOCALS - Highway Star from the Made in Japan album by Deep Purple
ACCOUSTIC GUITAR - LEO KOTTKE - 6 and 12 string Guitars
ELECTRONICA - Any by Kraftwerk, trans Europe Express is Good
The list could go on, please contribute I would like to develop a really good thread which could maybe used as a referenc for others. :cool:
We have got a few list somewhere
A very similar approach to me
http://open.spotify.com/user/gamalon/playlist/2LOAv7kumIaopxUOoZlSyr
I use the Indian world music stuff for coherence intergration and speed
I'd listen to anything on offer and see if the often unkown music being played stirs the soul. The worse the system, the more "sound" one seems to hear and less "music."
Just my tuppence worth - probably not even worth that, but it works for me ;)
Mighty Ant
28-07-2011, 22:50
Soular Energy The bass will screw up any system if not set up properly. Beautiful recording as well.
Concerto Audio
29-07-2011, 11:52
Sultan of Swing - Dire Straits
Thank you - Bob Scags
Gaucho - Steely Dan
Sunshine's Better - John Martin
Crime of the Century - Supertramp
Regards
Beethoven 4th: Walter (Franklin Mint red vinyl)
Symphony Fantastique...various
Shostakovich' Fifth: Bernstein (Columbia and re-issue)
Rickie Lee Jones: Girl at her Volcano
Paul Simon: Graceland
Dire Straights: Communique
Linda Ronstadt: Hasten Down the Wind
Jennifer Warnes and Leonard Cohen: Famous Blue Raincoat
Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole (Chesky)
Sibelius' First: Stowkoski (Columbia)
Soular Energy The bass will screw up any system if not set up properly. Beautiful recording as well.
Just checked this out; great album and some lovelly playing
Wakefield Turntables
29-07-2011, 13:13
Thanks for the replies so far, but WHY do you specifically use these albums as test records ? I'm sure there are millions are great records to listen to, but it would be useful to know WHY they are useful as test records :cool:
I use the records on the list because I like to listen to them anyway. They all sound at least good, and since I listen to at least one of them every day, I can evaluate any changes readily.
I defer to the more audiophiliacly accomplished to make more detailed descriptions.
I just know I like the music they make in my system.:)
worthingpagan
29-07-2011, 17:32
Jean Michelle Jarre "Aero", tracks 1,2 & 3
Barry White "The First, The Last, My Everything"
Joe Satriani "Joe Satriani" Tracks 2 & 3
I went to listen to some concrete speakers earlier this week, I took a cd by Oleta Adams called Rythm of Life, the owner of the speakers had never heard it before, track one has some wicked bass which I wanted to see if the concrete speakers would reproduce faithfully and they did, the 2nd track brings out Oleta's vocals really well and the speakers again performed admirably so that is why I use her CD for 2 areas Andrew.
Stratmangler
29-07-2011, 20:31
I went to listen to some concrete speakers earlier this week, I took a cd by Oleta Adams called Rythm of Life, the owner of the speakers had never heard it before, track one has some wicked bass which I wanted to see if the concrete speakers would reproduce faithfully and they did, the 2nd track brings out Oleta's vocals really well and the speakers again performed admirably so that is why I use her CD for 2 areas Andrew.
It's a great album - I have it on both CD and vinyl. I'm playing the vinyl right now, prompted by this post, so thanks David :cool:
It's a great album - I have it on both CD and vinyl. I'm playing the vinyl right now, prompted by this post, so thanks David :cool:
Oh shit just remembered I have the vinyl too, now where is it! :)
Good old Thomas Dolby - The Flat Earth - the LP is a sublime cut and the remastered CD is "challenging" to put it politely.
chris@panteg
05-08-2011, 15:35
It's a great album - I have it on both CD and vinyl. I'm playing the vinyl right now, prompted by this post, so thanks David :cool:
I have it on vinyl too Chris , great album and recording .
At the moment i seem to be using Moondance by the great "Van" as his vocal is quite challenging for any system i feel , another is "Year of the Cat" Al Stewart.
I went to listen to some concrete speakers earlier this week,..
Can we have some more details on these concrete speakers? Are they DIY?
They are made in Yorkshire by a very nice gentleman whose website is called, wait for it, oh yes its www.concretespeakers.co.uk (http://www.concretespeakers.co.uk/)
Not cheap though are they?
cheap is not a word I like, in-expensive is better, speakers cost from about £10 up to £125k and higher, I have heard Focal Grand Utopias £120k worth and some in between, the concrete ones for under £5k were very good indeed.
Good drivers and the enclosure shape makes good sense too. Shame the signal has to pass though a passive crossover on the way to them....
They are made in Yorkshire by a very nice gentleman whose website is called, wait for it, oh yes its www.concretespeakers.co.uk (http://www.concretespeakers.co.uk/)
Thanks for the link, was sorta surprised about their shape and many colour options instead of being a dull grey and looking like a 1970's car park.
Not surprised about the weight of them though. http://i.imgur.com/gNAOr.gif
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