What is Your “Test” Record of Choice for New Equipment?
- Thread starter Teej
- Start date
Todd Dodds
Super Member
I use two Batdorf & Rodney albums, which I've had forever. They're pretty simple and easy to "see". I know each pop and tic by heart, and that helps evaluate new gear. A purist may wish to slap me.
Four LPs I know by heart with different characteristics I like to evaluate...
Ben Webster Live at the Renaissance — for live in-the-room ambience
Bob Marley's Kaya — for tight articulate bass lines
Caetano Veloso's Terra — for transient attack, as well as subtle, barely audible nuances
Beethoven Quartet Op 59 No 2 Adagio, Quartetto Italiano — for melting my heart
Ben Webster Live at the Renaissance — for live in-the-room ambience
Bob Marley's Kaya — for tight articulate bass lines
Caetano Veloso's Terra — for transient attack, as well as subtle, barely audible nuances
Beethoven Quartet Op 59 No 2 Adagio, Quartetto Italiano — for melting my heart
Nice thread!
If it's cd, I choose Beautiful South's Blue is the Color
If it's vinyl, Hotel California or the Cleo Lane and John Williams duet album (forgot the title)
I do t even know why any more: it's just what I like!!
If it's cd, I choose Beautiful South's Blue is the Color
If it's vinyl, Hotel California or the Cleo Lane and John Williams duet album (forgot the title)
I do t even know why any more: it's just what I like!!
Spitfirejoe
Cheap Audio Aficionado
Anything I know really well, but these are some of my go-to things...
Steely Dan - Aja (Wayne Shorter's Sax and Steve Gadd's ride cymbal - is that right? - I'm not a drummer)
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms (Dynamics)
Massive Attack - Mezzanine (Lots of stuff going on there)
Joni Mitchell - Overture - Cotton Avenue (good Lord... when Jaco's bass drops in... and those backing vocals)
The Eagles - Hotel California (from the Hell Freezes Over live album)
The Who - Baba O'Riley (The synth at the beginning, and the violin at about 4 minutes in)
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (What are there - like 150 overdubs in that piece?)
Pink Floyd - DSOTM (The whole album - it just does so much)
Kronos Quartet - Pieces Of Africa (The soundstage!)
Beck - Morning (I just let this one wash over me)
Steely Dan - Aja (Wayne Shorter's Sax and Steve Gadd's ride cymbal - is that right? - I'm not a drummer)
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms (Dynamics)
Massive Attack - Mezzanine (Lots of stuff going on there)
Joni Mitchell - Overture - Cotton Avenue (good Lord... when Jaco's bass drops in... and those backing vocals)
The Eagles - Hotel California (from the Hell Freezes Over live album)
The Who - Baba O'Riley (The synth at the beginning, and the violin at about 4 minutes in)
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (What are there - like 150 overdubs in that piece?)
Pink Floyd - DSOTM (The whole album - it just does so much)
Kronos Quartet - Pieces Of Africa (The soundstage!)
Beck - Morning (I just let this one wash over me)
Carraway
Well-Known Member
I usually try to mix recordings with few instruments for detail and natural timbre to fairly complex orchestrations to see how much I can hear.
Herbie Hancock, The Piano - For a very well recorded solo piano.
Son House, Original Delta Blues. Especially the tracks where it's just his voice and handclaps.
Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Thompson Fields. Rich, textured orchestration and detail.
Clutch, Blast Tyrant. For good ol' rock.
Pierre Boulez/Cleveland Orchestra, The Rite of Spring.
Imelda May, Mayhem, for female vocals and rockabilly.
Herbie Hancock, The Piano - For a very well recorded solo piano.
Son House, Original Delta Blues. Especially the tracks where it's just his voice and handclaps.
Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Thompson Fields. Rich, textured orchestration and detail.
Clutch, Blast Tyrant. For good ol' rock.
Pierre Boulez/Cleveland Orchestra, The Rite of Spring.
Imelda May, Mayhem, for female vocals and rockabilly.
