...take 1 CD LP or 1 digital music recording to test a new audiophile friend's system...

JLP, Al Dimeola, Stanley Clarke - Rites of Strings CD. One of the best produced CDs I've ever heard.

And, of course, Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 45 lp.

Years ago I made a CD-R of a variety of selected tracks from different recordings, each of which highlighted a particular aspect that I was interested to hear.  Much easier than carting around a stack of CDs from store to store and feeding disks in and out of the machine.

I don't bring anything to "test" anyone's anything. I listen to what they have. Only times I ever brought anything was either a) way back in the beginning when I was still wet behind the ears clueless or b) once I had been a few times, knew what the guy had, and thought people would appreciate hearing something new.  

They did. 

That's what its all about: the music. Not checking off tick boxes some other dude thinks matter.

Unless you are into hard rock or fusion style jazz, I would take Alison Krauss and Union Station live CD. Stunning SQ, lots of all the audiophile qualities we strive for. Musicianship is superb and her voice will test many a system for purity. SACD is even better.

Tonian Trio II Moon Jazz ...this is Brad Dutz, John Fumo and Randy Landas. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Tony Minasian... this is a stunning recording by a top top and rather different approach engineer, showing off what Red Book can really do ...so if its truly only 1 CD for me its this one ..

Ketty Lester, Love Letters 1962 vinyl

riley804

Gee man - that’s an excellent suggestion!

Thanks for your input...

@insearchofprat   

"  I am trying to expand my diversity and appreciation of well-recorded music; I feel this limitation can get me the Best of the Best from other audiophiles "

what album, what singer, what song, blah, blah, to test a system, to listen to on a island, with green eggs and ham , has been covered hundreds of times..

if you want suggestions of music, then visit the old threads, this is why there is a SEARCH option and make a list of what others have mentioned in their replies.

jjss49

I am trying to expand my diversity and appreciation of well-recorded music; I feel this limitation can get me the Best of the Best from other audiophiles by its limitation to a complete recording and it not being a single song question. We all tend to think in a group of the best singles, not the best overall recording success...

Sorry if I offered in asking this, but other "Best" inquiries I've seen fail with the same tunes over and over...

Given my parameters - jjss49: can you / do you add a recommendation?

Pink Floyd - (The)Dark Side of the Moon.
Happy Listening!

why only 1 - that is silly

so much more learned with a handful to test various aspects