Won't Make It Out Alive - Bleu
Overwhelming Feeling - Wang Chung
Conversation - ARS
Hyannisport Soul - Colours
Tracks that bring out the best of YOUR digital system
My faves-never fail to get toes tapping or give goosebumps. Qobuz
-Feels so good (C. Mangione)
-little by little (R. Plant)
-Do you believe instrumental (poolside)
-all night long (Lionel)
-this must be the place (talking heads)
-hang on to your love (Sade)
-rock you gently (j. Warnes)
-don’t stop me now (queen)
-lonely stranger (Clapton)
-So lonely (police)
-just like you (satin jackets)
-innocent man (b. Joel)
-in love (melosense)
silhouette (goldroom)
What are your faves?
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48 responses Add your response
"Rooster", Alice In Chains, Unplugged Album (much better recording than the original) ’Sounds of Silence’, Geoff Castellucci ’Smells Like Teen Spirit", Trevor Horn/Jack Lukeman need lots of deep, articulate, undistorted bass energy to fully appreciate these cuts. my system specializes in that and doing space and authority. |
Not toe tappers but. I recently Decided to resurrect my old HSU sub by ordering a new plate amp from HSU. I had purchased a replacement several years back so I decided to see if I could set up a dual sub system. After much moving things around I finally was able to eliminate the null at my listening position. All I can say is WOW! The depth and articulation I get now far exceeds anything I have experienced going back to the early 70's when I first started in to this hobby. I honestly question why some are so adamantly against sub systems and choose to listen to polite British BBC style monitors neat. But I digress. Recently and newly enjoyed cuts that just blow me away are: "Orian" by Melanie MacLaren.24/192 on Amazon "If it be your will", Jennifer Warnes, Famous Blue Raincoat, CD quality. "Leaders", Billie Strings. 24/96 on Amazon. The last one will literally shake things in the room and hit you in the chest.
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There are multiple tracks on the MFSL Cowboy Junkies Whites Off Earth Now SACD that seem almost holographic, and there are also multiple tracks on the Analog Productions Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions SACD; it may appear that I am a fan of The Cowboy Junkies, but is more that I am a fan of those two discs. I’d probably pick Mining For Gold and Sweet Jane from Trinity, and I just cannot narrow it down on WOEN. I agree with @motown-l on Down To The Waterline, and would go so far as to say that the entire MFSL SACD (self titled) shines. Just one track from a disc? That’s usually tough for me, but from Jacintha’s Fire And Rain SACD (which I think is on Groove Note and was her covering James taylor songs) I’d pick Fire And Rain and also I would pick a short instrumental On The Road Jam. Sorry, but I can never seem to narrow it down to just one track. |
If you do these necessary things much more of your system will be toe tapping . Ifyou are into digital the issue is not getting the basics right for example you should have a modem router combo to start , the agood LPS power supply going to the router for these wall warts are $5 pieces of noise and digital from house to house brings noise ,fiber optic sucks the life outof music you need a quality Ethernet switch Ansuz and others sell them around $2500 and up, and good Ethernet cables ,the one at the endpoint most important . for $400 Sablon makes a verygood one for the money .for example. ,even witha goood dac until your address these weaknesses then you-will not get that vinyl type sound ,dac should be at least $4500 on up if you want true reference quality sound .I go to many audioget togethers and finally got the message ,no short cuts Allowed !! |
A small selection. How deep is the ocean - Diana Krall |
Well, I'm surprised at how few members listed classical music. I contend that if you don't use at least some well-recorded classical music for demo purposes, it's hard to pick accurate components. Here are some that sound especially good to me: Reference Recordings HDCD of Copland (Fanfare for the Common Man, Appalachian Spring, etc.) The slam of the drums on "Fanfare" will bowl you over if your system can reproduce that aspect well. Goosebump music on this disc, at least for me. Philharmonia Baroque CD of Rameau Orchestral Suites (very realistic sound, with more dynamic drums than the two-SACD by Jordi Savall; Rameau's compositions really stand out compared to the more well-known baroque composers) Bach organ works by Masaaki Suzuki (96k/24-bit, streamed on Qobuz--these give good soundstaging and bass from the organ pedals) And for some non-classical picks: The Fred Hersch Trio Plays... Chesky Records CD--very realistic ambience, natural recording of jazz classics Michael Stearns Planetary Unfolding (24-bit, 44.1k Qobuz stream) One of the all-time best space music classics, with remarkable 3-D effects as well as much more developed composition than most works in this genre. I'm actually a fan and practitioner of rock music, but most recordings of it are so compressed and artificial, it's hard for me to think of really good recordings in that genre. I will check out some mentioned above, such as the Unplugged recordings that I haven't listened to in their best versions. |
@audioman58 Are you really so deep into the camp that believes sound quality and enjoyment are inexorably tied to the price of your components? There are actually those of us who derive great pleasure from entire systems that come in at prices for less than your recommended minimum for a single component. Some of us actually need or want to stay within a budget. |
What I stated is just a matter of fact a linear power supply of any cost is your choice linear tube audio I Highly recommend .,higher quality Digital cables are also proven better by many brands. the Ethernet switch unfortunately is quite costly to Gan a substantial increase in naturalness and musicality . I have heard at least 6 .I have a less expensive ZlHZy SW8 which is for sure better then the $30 non audio quality type. Anything having a Wall wart is trash just adds noise and has no business in audio . I have had several a $3k and $6k Ethernet switch in my system ,from Innuos and Ansuz , I absolutely plan on buying one of them ,my brother has 2 in his audio systems and IMO worth every Dollar streaming is at least 15% better at minimum , to me it’s worth it .I am busy with home improvements , end of year I plan on upgrading a system upgrade in several areas . 40 years + into this and having owned a Audio store I know high Quality I have owned $$ 6 figure systems . now with advancing technologies you can buy a excellent audio system for under $50k.that’s my end game over the next year. Synergy is what’s most important then just $$ monies thrown at building a Audio system. |
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The World Tomorrow Brings - Andrew Gold You Got It - Todd Rundgren Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Richie Cole Shake a Tailfeather - Ray Charles Hot For Teacher - The Bird And The Bee Hot Spot Melody - Brian Protheroe Two-Tones - Joe Stilgoe I’m Gonna Be Your Man - Keb Mo Love Or Confusion - Phil Brown Uncle John’s Farm - Owsley Try Too Hard - The DC5 Why Don’t You Come... - Jackdaw4 See The Light - The Flame Love Will Find It’s Way To You - Lee Greenwood Ride - Wondermints |
The Look Of Love - Diana Krall I Can’t Tell You Why - Diana Krall I’m Coming Through - Diana Krall A Venture - Yes Spooky - David Sanborn The Evil That Men Do (from Maiden England ‘88 Live) - Iron Maiden. May sound crazy but the friggin bass line in this particular song is absolutely AMAZING! Steve Harris is nothing short of a magician! This track alone will show you whether or not your system can truly ROCK OUT AND bring this mesmerizing bass line front and center! On The Beach - Chris Rea It Keeps You Runnin - Doobie Brothers The Royal Scam - Steely Dan Do It Again - Steely Dan Shot Of Love - AC/DC. This one will test the mettle of your subs! It’s also AC/DC’s most underrated song, IMHO |
@llg98ljk strange post indeed. What does it have to do with the post? Luckily I am ignorant and clueless enough to enjoy a 3 figure system :) |
Some good ones here, keep em coming!! Personally I have to like the song for it to get play, hence “toe tapping” is my measuring stick. As for classical, I dig it but seldom want to sit down & listen. Accuracy of components is not even something I consider. But I do know that classical sounds fantastic on the Qobuz-streaming, Denafrips DAC, hybrid tube system that I’ve built . Thanks to Audiogons forum members I think I’ve picked well. |
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I help out a exhibitor at Capital Audiofest and I always play certain digital tracks. No. 1 on my list is Vivaldi Concerti pour Hautbois, Basson et Cordes with Alfredo Bernardini (Astree label)--I usually put on the 4th track which is a bassoon concerto. Someone above mentioned the Be Good Tanyas. I also use one of their tracks off an album named Chinatown--"Waiting Around to Die" (a cover of a magnificent Townes Van Zandt song). Another good demo track is the Natalie Merchant, Hazmat Modine, Fairfield Four performance of "Peppery Man." For Jazz, I use Stefano Battaglia "Re Pasolini" album (either of the first two tracks), and Anour Brahem's "Thimar" album (jazz with an oud added to the mix). |
I mainly listen to vinyl so often find myself seeing how digital compares and what comes closest to vinyl. I will be scanning the posts over the weekend when streaming and checking out some tracks A dealer I met was obsessed with this song. It is fun to listen to(a few times lol). It didn't impress me much for trying to discern between speakers in the store. HEDEGAARD - Ratchets |
@grislybutter what’s strange? I have some issue with suggestions about how one has to spend X before you can enjoy hi fidelity, ie; at least $45o0 for a DAC. After all, isn’t the mantra here “let your ears be your guide “? So that should assume that your enjoyment shouldn’t be tied to the size of your wallet. I assume you understood that my original post was a response to Audioman58.
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@llg98ljk sorry for not being clear. I agreed with you. I meant audiomen's post was strange about how much you MUST spend |
From the live red book of Holy Cole's It Happened One Night, I particularly enjoy the opening track, Cry If You Want To, for the sense of immediacy I get from it. I actually like the entire CD, but it is that track that comes to mind. I agree with the previous Love Over Gold post by @akg_ca , when I started buying SACDs that was one of the first ones and when I plated it, I was like, "Wow! That was good!" I like all the MFSL Dire Straits SACDs, but that one in particular and self titled I like 'extra special.' |
Full disclosure, my preamp and amps are DIY 100% analog, Digital inputs are picore player running LMS, Bluetooth ;-) That said, Steely Dan Aja, Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill Acoustic, Tracey Chapman, Nigel Stanford (Automatica and Solar Echoes) <-- By far the best sounding productions on my equipment>, Alan Parsons, S.O.S. Band, Melody Gardot, Toy Matinee.. Almost everything sounds great, but the list above really shines... |
@larryi that Vivaldi track is really good. It’s not often that my system startles me with the sound of a bassoon |