Only two tracks to test your system, forever!


If you could only use two tracks/songs for the rest of your life whenever you wanted to test a change to your system, what would they be?

128x128gladmo

@moonwatcher had a nicely worded response .. describing what makes for a great track ..

Placement, staging, resolution, timbre have become the fine points I etc long to seek out, once deciphered, I can then rest that my standard catalog will sound as good as it can.

But one additional point .. I find that a recording of natural acoustically recorded instruments yields me the best quick analysis of performance.

I have rested on the early Jim Keltner Shefield Drum track .. ( the HDTr transfer is not a great representation of the recording, find an early Sheffield album or disc, the early work is amazingly different in heft attack, and dynamics) ..

and 2) if so blessed to find the early produced test disc by Opus 3 Test Disc 1 (track 1) "Tiden Bara Gar" has female voice. Both discs feature winsomely instruments placed for depth, sonic placement, and resolution. The Opus One features a few other choice cuts on there that are amazingly resolving due to the care in capturing the original recording.

Thanks to the contributors for the many cut suggestions .. am anxious to explore many of these!

Sara Barielles - Gravity from Live at Variety Playhouse

Phil Collins - Don’t Care Anymore (incredible drums that really show sound stage)

A lot of great suggestions here, some I have in my collection, many I do not and will have to check out.

@jay2 Being a fan of smooth jazz, I went on YouTube and gave Pete Belasco "Deeper" a listen - great suggestion. Even streaming through my 12 year old MacBook, it sounded good. Defiantly has the bass. Went on Amazon Music and ordered the CDs of "Deeper" and "Lights On"

thanks.......Jim

 

Very much enjoyed this! Added 7-8 songs listed here to my existing testing and positioning playlist. There are quite a few I already had on my list. Cheers to all that have participated.