best songs to discern a good system


I have been building an arsenal of music to test certain aspects of speakers for some time. Below is a list of what I use and why. I am interested to find out what others use and what they listen for in each selection.

Jennifer Warnes "Way down deep" off the cd "the Hunter". This is a great song and the lower bass is an african drum that is actually squeezed in order to get a unique sound. It is very tough for a subwoofer (the one note only kind) to reproduce this.

Vital Tech tones "VTT" this is a fantastic example of musical bass not just earth shattering low notes. Victor Wooten plays amazingly, even though this track is just to introduce the band it is one of my favorites.

Nine Inch Nails "into the void" I have heard this sound incredibly convincing on a pair of revel ultima studios. I use this track once I have found a system that has great imaging and soundstaging to test to make sure the kick drum sounds like a skin being struck and not a speaker.

Greg Brown "who killed **** Robin" great male vocals. The breathieness of the track is very lifelike on the correct system.

Diana Krall "Frim Fram Sauce" I use this track to see how liquid the system is. To determine if the instruments sound smooth and fluid from top to bottom.

Patricia Barber "Touch of trash" Mobile fidelity original master version. This is a great track to here image and sound stage of a small band and vocals.

The Eagles "Hotel California" from the JVC XRCD reissue. Great guitar to test the smoothness of the midrange.

The Sheffield Lab Drum and track Disc (JVC XRCD2 reissue). I try not to listen to test tracks even when auditioning new speakers, but tracks 1 and 2 speak volumes to how a good system can recreate a drum kit in your room.

Please let me know what you use. Thanks.
hahnzie
I use 3 cds when I evaluate a system:

1. Eva Cassidy "American Tune": I use this to test midrange and texture

2. Bliss "Quiet Letters": the first track to test for bass response

3. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd "Jazz Samba": second track to test highs.
fish, welcome to the 'gon. If you're wondering why you're not getting the feedback you desire, it's because there are oodles, and oodles of this in the archives. Been there done that so many times, it hurts. You'll find tons of listening references to help you out. YOu got some good ones there, but there as so many more your ears will ring. Happy listening...peace, warren:)
The Greg Brown track is track 3 on "Honey in the Lions head". Even if your not a fan of Greg Brown you should definetly check that track out. On the right system it is "spooky real" how his sonorous voice resonates as if he is in the room right next to you.