What music gets first listen on your new kit...?

[rdpx]

Hi

Looks like I may be about to test and then most likely bring home a new pair of speakers tomorrow.

Which made me wonder what music I am likely to take down with me to listen to and also what will be the first thing I play when I set up the new system.

So - a couple of questions for you all:

1. If you could only take ONE record/CD/whatever to test new kit, what would you take?

2. When you finally have the new (insert piece of kit here) all set up and ready to go, what is the first music you play on it?


Off the top of my head, I am thinking that tomorrow I might take along my CD of John Zorn's SPILLANE [nb link to youtube] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW7BjndJ8QI)

When I get them back home and all is plumbed in I am really not sure. Currently thinking A LOVE SUPREME, so I can hear that bass that I know has been there these past few years.... but I will let you know.

R.

::champagne:

[sumday]

VAN HALEN..."FAIR WARNING"

when new kit is being checked out I find this album perfect.
the easy bit is of course the pyrotechnic guitar widdle but I find alex van halen's superb drum playing to be a great system tester.
if this album is not on your rock radar I strongly suggest you check it out........the double kickdrum on "HEAR ABOUT IT LATER" is .....ahem...."the bomb"!!!!!

[struth]

Ralph McTell. Streets vinyl....cd, new favorites Alison Krauss.

[Ninanina]

The first cd I ALWAYS play with a new bit of hardware is Derrin Nauendorf - Live At The Boardwalk - It's a superb live album and as I've seen Derrin dozens of times live I know what it should sound like...

http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a450/ninanina2/Derrin33.jpg (http://s1036.photobucket.com/user/ninanina2/media/Derrin33.jpg.html)

[walpurgis]

Currently, my regular 'test CD' is 'Are You Shpongled' By Shpongle. It's a superb recording and had some very deep notes at the beginning that most speakers can't reproduce properly. As for vinyl, I'd pick something by Eat Static.

[RichB]

Robbie Robertson - How to become clairvoyant

Great opening bass from pino palladino, pinpoint guitar solos and hairs on the back of the neck when the backing vocal comes in. If it doesn't do this I know summats up.

[rdpx]

Robbie Robertson - How to become clairvoyant

Great opening bass from pino palladino, pinpoint guitar solos and hairs on the back of the neck when the backing vocal comes in. If it doesn't do this I know summats up.

All these guitars are making me think I might have to try and find Friday Night in San Francisco... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3BzAKHCEvo)

I haven't even heard of half the names being touted here, but am liking what I hear so far.

[Gordon Steadman]

Time out - Dave Brubeck.

[jollyfix]

Astounding sounds LP, when i first started getting into proper hifi playing this LP i would hear bits in the mix i never heard on my old kit, wind chimes and the like. City of Lagoons main test track, this floyd like track has a very open bass drum,some hate the sound of it and feel its not mixed, dampened etc, for me sounds real. I can tell straight away when i listen to that if the kit is up to scratch.
d22rmKeRVCc

[Anthony K]

Nils Landgren Funk Unit - Sisters of Arequipa

[Audio Al]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tR2_xeM7UI


This track or the album :D

[DanJennings]

Bjork - Homogenic for me.
Really great recording and fantastic album.

[Oldpinkman]

Joan armatrading. Love and affection.
Katie melua down & out
Pink Floyd - money
Bach double violin concerto - David oistrach

[Audio Al]

Joan armatrading. Love and affection.

Oh Yes :)

[struth]

The 180 gram vinyl of Supertramp's crime of the century is a fantastic test of a system. It is so much better than the cd or the original vinyl press which was crap.

[struth]

Another recent vinyl is the mfsl recording of Roy Orbison's greatest hits. I am using it at moment to set up and test a new cart as it's a fantastic recording and I now know what it sounds like pretty well.

[Desmo]

Annie Lennox - Diva This album gives me a clear indication of the impact of any new item I put in the system.

[Pete The Cat]

Rush "Hemispheres" side two. Partly because I know it like the back of my hand, and partly because it's got most of the sounds you might ever expect to hear on a rock album, from wind chimes down to Rickenbacker bass.

Pete

[Tom-Brown]

Got a great 1st press mint copy of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac!!! sounds brilliant !!! great to test anything :)

[johnB]

2011 180gm 45rpm double version of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is my weapon of choice on first listen to a new component ......mastered from original analog tapes.
Nice

[rdpx]

Time out - Dave Brubeck.

I've been listening to this all day.

[struth]

Jazz at the Pawnshop is another excellent test cd or vinyl if your lucky enough to own one.

[User211]

Currently, my regular 'test CD' is 'Are You Shpongled' By Shpongle. It's a superb recording and had some very deep notes at the beginning that most speakers can't reproduce properly. As for vinyl, I'd pick something by Eat Static.

I hope you are aware of Younger Brother too?

[shane]

Jazz at the Pawnshop is another excellent test cd or vinyl if your lucky enough to own one.

That's the one I go for every time.