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Which Record makes your system shine?

Hey All, 

Been a while since I posted anything and I hope I am posting in the correct category.

So, just curious, which Vinyl Record, do you feel makes your system shine and display it's full potential?

OR, put another way, which record or records would you put on if you wanted to show off your system to someone who has not heard or seen it before?

Of course we know, not all records sound the same but for me I feel (at least on my system), it's the record: "Temptation" by Chantal Chamberland - Evosound Records

Carpenters: The Singles (forgot to check the record label).

On the other hand, I have James Taylor Greatest Hits on Vinyl and that record just sounds a bit veiled to me.

It's funny how one record can sound great and another, not that it sounds bad but just doesn't seem to have that crispness or openness to it.

System at the moment if you're wondering:

- Vincent SV-500
- Mofi Studio Desk w/Hana SL MC
- Martin Logan Motion 40 Speakers
- Sim Audio Moon 110lp V2 Phono
- Cardas Cabling

jay73
parkergetdean
1,086 posts
 

The Vincent SV-500 is awesome.

When I find an album I like a lot, I buy several versions of it. 

Let it Bleed (Decca), Ram, A Day at the Races, Crime of the Century are all amazingly well produced, recorded. Carpenters as well.

Some of Bob Dylan's, New Morning for example are decent. But strangely NONE of ELO's are great quality, same with the Who. 

And then there is Van Morrison, mostly OK/good. 

aewarren
785 posts
 

Have you ever considered or tried moving your cabinet back closer to the wall and away from your speakers? That would free them from side reflections and benefit imaging and soundstage.

allenf1963
491 posts
 

The "Love Over Gold" album by Dire Straits is a fantastic choice to show off the bottom end and upper dynamics of your system -- especially the song "Private Investigations".   The nylon classical strings that Knopfler uses on this song will sound absolutely sublime on a high end system or horn speakers.  When I demo this song to friends, I can't wait for the 2:58 part of the song -- Knopfler shuffles his feet on a hardwood floor that has sand on it, he finishes a little flamenco-style guitar run and then the drummer starts a hi-hat countdown.  The crispness is hard to describe in writing...you just have to hear it.  The bass guitar starts its slow beat and then eruptions from the strings section.   Easily one of the best recorded and mixed albums of the 1980's.  "Telegraph Road" is another great song along with "Love Over Gold".

 

Another album I use is a Japanese pressing of "Animals" by Pink Floyd.  A system with great detail will pick up so many little things on the song "Dogs".  I think I pick up something new every time I play the song.

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feldmen4
131 posts
 

No doubt about it - the latest by the Cowboy Junkies More Acoustic Junk.  When I received the (vinyl) album I had just seen them at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA the week before and it sounded virtually the same as seeing them live.  It is the best produced album I have ever heard.  It finally came out on Qobuz and Tidal recently and the streaming version sounds fantastic, too (I've probably only heard the Qobuz version as that's my Roon default).

Yes, I'm a Junkies homer, but this album is a masterpiece.  Anyone else heard it?

BTW, Junkies are coming to my hometown (Knoxville) so I'll actually get to see them without traveling in June - got my presale tix today!  Assume there will be an adjacent southern tour so I'm sure we'll be on the road for that.

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