Best demo CD for hi-end audio?


Hi, I was just wondering what CDs you guys bring to demo some hi-end audio equipments?

I'm looking for a recording that is perfectly recorded and that can help, say choosing between two 100,000+ pair of speakers. A recording so good, that when you do hear some distortion, wrong tone, noise, etc, you know it's not the fault of the CD, but the equipments. A recording so moving, you'll end up in tears by the last track.

Thanks in advance,
spacekadet

Showing 2 responses by rsbeck

I take along several CD's. Make sure you have different types of music so you can make sure the speakers sound good with all of the types to which you like to listen. One that I make sure to take is Rickie Lee Jones' Pop Pop. There is a song on that CD that gives speakers fits. It is Jimi Hendrix's Up From The Skies. A speaker that struggles with this song is weeded out immediately. Excellent quality speakers will be able to handle that song at higher volumes without congestion, keeping separation between the instruments. Lesser quality speakers will turn it into mud. It is also a great CD for acoustic bass and female vocals. There is also a song on it called "Dat
Dere." In this song, the drummer is playing brushes. With excellent speakers, you can make out the swishing of the brushes, hearing the bristles, etc. With lesser speakers, it just sounds fuzzy and indistinct. You can learn a
lot about a pair of speakers with this CD.
To me, a great set of speakers should be able to do several things -- resolve the details naturally -- and -- my system always has to pass the "head-bob" test. I have certain music, like John Coltrane's "Blue Train." I take that along as a test, too. Certainly to hear how the speakers will handle jazz and Jazz instruments, but also because a lot of speakers will resolve the music impressively. You'll say to yourself -- it sounds just like a saxophone is playing right here in the room. And, that's a great starting point, but if my head isn't bobbing to the music, something's wrong. Some speakers and systems will reproduce it rather faithfully, but the music has a certain bounce that should take you away and into the music, achieving what I look for most; Speakers and system that will ultimately disappear so you forget you are listening to a system and speakers.