CD-Player test

Ok I want to make a shootout between some CD- Players to determine the sound quality of the players. For this I am looking for about 10 “test” tracks, which will make a good workout in the art of sound and revile the strong / weak points of the player.

I would also ask you to post the reason for using that particular track and what to listen for, the details. The goal is to make a kind of track sheet.

It is ok to post anything between 1 and 10 tracks, but please post description of every single track posted.

Then after some time depending on the amount of suggested tracks, we can discuses witch to use.

AND bear in mind that you’re favorite test recording by a local farmer/hustler/artist done in the back/at the end - of the - field/alley/bedroom, maybe haven’t made it to a release here in Europe and vise versa.

Think of it as creating the ultimate international AK CD-Player test album.

Care-charming Sleep
The Dowland Project/John Potter
ECM

Track #1 Refrain 1

Track #2 Anchor che col partire, madrigal

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=pd_bbs_1/104-2753372-2623908?ie=UTF8&s=music

One of my favorite tracks is "Oh, I Had A Golden Thread" by Eva Cassidy from the album "Songbird". It has a nice deep bass line, clean sounding Hammond organ, drums are played with brushes and her voice is crystalline. The recording has an air of hall ambiance to it. When I play this track, I immediately know if something is amiss or not. Other strong tracks from the same album are "People Get Ready" (more pop-soul with a strong bass and drum line and some nice jazzy leady guitar work) and "I Know You By Heart".

All of Sarah McLachlan's "Surfacing" is a great test for female vocals, piano, bass, drums, all of it. It's the first CD I reach for when making any system changes. If anything sounds bad here, I know my gear needs attention.
Track #1, "Building A Mystery" and #4, "Adia" both have great drums. Not deep, but clear and clean.
Track #2, "I Love You" has a bass line that easily goes down to around 30Hz.
Track #5, "Do What You Have To Do" has (for me) some of the most gorgeous female vocals and piano I've ever heard.

Another good one is Jennifer Warnes' "Famous Blue Raincoat", also with crystal clear vocals and instruments. Track #2, "Bird On A Wire", sounds like it's just right in front of you. Sensational horns and drums, too.

I'd read somewhere that the ultimate musical instrument is the female voice in song. Most days, I tend to agree. Get that right and most everything else falls into place.

Tom

For dynamics, instrument sepration and, most importantly; crushing, thunderous bass, try the Gorillaz track Tomorrow Comes Today - sorts the stable platters from the flimsy assembly!

For voices/human speech I always use Bjork's Medulla album. I don't really liek the album at all, but as it is composed entirely of the human voice, the tracks Who Is It and Mouth's Cradle are a definate test of clarity and timing.

Now, my favourite - for stereo seperation, timbre and accuracy, I always use Dave Brubeck's Time Out, on original 180g vinyl if possible -CD tends to sound a bit flat until recent remasters. Maybe its a personal favourite but it always told me what I wanted to hear from a CD player, and many of my purchases over the years were governed by their performance ont his track.

Happy listening!

One of my favorite "Testing" CD is "If I Could Only Remember My Name" by David Crosby.

Warm up your ears with track one, "Music Is Love". If you can smell the "Polish" of the Wood guitars, in your mind, you have dynamic range.

On to track 4 "Laughing" , will reveal warm, but not over powering Bass, combined with crystal clear "Highs".

The last track, "I'd Swear There Was Somebody There", will reveal amazing, transending, upper frequencies. If it doesn't give you the Shivers, you might be already taking the everlasting "Dirt Nap".......


Personnel includes: David Crosby (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Graham Nash (vocals, guitar, piano); Jerry Garcia (guitar, pedal steel guitar); Neil Young (guitar, vibraphone, bass, congas, background vocals); Jorma Kaukonen, Paul Kantner (guitar); Laura Allan (autoharp); Greg Rolie (piano); Jack Casady, Phil Lesh (bass); Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Michael Shrieve (drums, percussion); Joni Mitchell, Grace Slick (background vocals).Recorded at Wally Heider's, San Francisco, California.For his highly anticipated 1971 solo debut, David Crosby recorded a unique, eclectic, and willfully expansive album. The cream of 1970s California rock is assembled here, with the various celebrities joining together in an organic, collective approach that's embodied by the opening, free-spirited jam of "Music Is Love." Throughout the record, Crosby moves from the sauntering shuffle of "Cowboy Movie" to the wondrously spiritual harmonies of "Tamalpais High (At About 3)" and, eventually, the hallowed chants of "I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here." While embracing the relaxed, dreamy sounds of the time, IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME has its haunting, melancholy moments, with the setting sun on the cover mirroring that era's end. The result is a fascinating yet underrated album.

rek50 said:

One of my favorite "Testing" CD is "If I Could Only Remember My Name" by David Crosby.

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I've loved that album ever since it first was released, but I never thought of it as especially well recorded. Could just be the dynamics of the CD reissue I usually play. I'll dig the vinyl out of the vault tonight and give both the LP and the CD a spin.

Thanks for the recommendation!

i tend to use piano solos for testing audio. you should be able to close your eyes and think a piano is in front of you.

pmsummer,I have the 1971 Atlantic CD. Maybe it's your CDP, then again....

Do a Google on "The Ultimate CD player". An audioheritage.org ( Lansing Heritage link), has a thread on "The Ultimate CD Player".

It's the first gen. Play Station one. That's what I'm running. SCPH 5001. I was skeptical, till I tried one. Now, I have four of them. They're all "Stock" for now, and sound fine. BUT, I do hear slight differences between the four. Two are more mellow (tube-like), and the other two sound "Crisper" like more Solid State.

Like Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder, good sound is in the ears of whoever...

Forget Google, too much crap. This should be the link:

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5015&highlight=ultimate+player

Rek50,
Where in ne ohio are you located I'm near Massillon?

I have also tried the PSX as a cd player. I have the original 1001 with the rca jacks on it. Personally I thought it was the best sounding Sony I've ever heard but not the best cd player. Probably just me but I can't stand the 1bit dac. I believe the psx is 16bit so that may be why it sounds better to me than other sony's.

blownsi said:

Where in ne ohio are you located I'm near Massillon?

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Massillon??? As in The Massillon Plaque Company? I used to buy these great little keepsake boxes from them as wedding presents because they were able to etch the invitation into the top of the box at a reasonable price. Haven't thought of them for years, and now, I have a need coming up. Thanks for the unintended reminder!

blownsi, I'm about 9 minutes from the "Honey Hut" icecream at Metro Parks/Hunington Beach (Lake Erie). I goofed on the model number, I have SCPH 1001. They may not be the "Best CD Player" but for the money they do OK.

One of my favorite test CD's ever is Elton John, Live in Australia. My favorite track is number 3, Amazing Discovery. Another favorite, although it belongs to my wife, is Michael Crawford's Phantom of the Opera. :yes: Brad

"Beyond the Storm" by Dave Grusin/Lee Ritenour on "Harlequin". Why? Has dynamic highs and subtle lows. Each instrument (piano, guitar, drum) is un-muddied by other rhythms. If you enjoy live music and can spot flaws in reproduction of guitar "twangs" and piano or cymbals sounds as played back, then this is the track I take to audition speakers and such.

Ok, so far the list is:


#1. Care-charming Sleep, The Dowland Project/John Potter, ECM Track #1 and 2 (nice acoustic instruments in a “live” environment you hear breathing and walking in the back ground.

#2. Songbird, Eva Cassidy, Track #9 Oh, I Had A Golden Thread. Has a kind of Gospel atmosphere, female singer, drums and Hammond’s.

#3. Surfacing, Sarah McLachlan. Track #1+4 great drums, 2 low bass line, around 30Hz), 5 female vocals and piano. It is a bit difficult to say anything about this record except that it seems nicely recorded (only heard the mp3’s on Amazon!)).

#4. Famous Blue Raincoat, Jennifer Warnes. Track #2. Bird on the wire.

#5. Gorillaz, Gorillaz. Track #3, Tomorrow Comes Today. For dynamics, instrument separation and thunderous bass. (Rock played as year in 2003).

#6. Medulla, Bjork. Track #6 and #12, test of clarity and timing, all voices).

#7. Time Out, Dave Brubeck Quartet. Track ?. For stereo separation, timbre and accuracy.

#8. If I Could Only Remember My Name, David Crosby. Track #1 Wood guitars, dynamic range, #4 warm Bass, combined with crystal clear "Highs", #9 amazing, transcending, upper frequencies.

#9. Live in Australia, Elton John. Track #3 “The Great Discovery”.

#10. Phantom of the Opera, Michael Crawford (1986 Original London Cast). (a big live stage).

#11. Harlequin, Dave Grusin/Lee Ritenour. Track #7 “Beyond The Storm (Depois Dos Temporais)” Has dynamic highs and subtle lows, If you enjoy live music and can spot flaws in reproduction of guitar "twangs" and piano or cymbals sounds as played back.


I would like to ad a few

Safe Journey, Steve Tibbets. Track #1 “Test” Great dynamics, wide and deep soundstage goes really low in a soft way. (I have the track from an ECM Spectrum special Yamaha release; I was able to find the original ECM release named Vol.1. But only half the tunes of the Yamaha release are on that one. If you ever get the chance to buy the Yamaha Release, grab it).

The Ballad of the Fallen, Charlie Haden. Track #1 “Els Segadors “ Super horns and a bass that in the end comes straight up to you’re face. Single out the every instrument. My copy is also of the ECM CD.

Misty Dawn, Doky/NHOP/Riel. Columbia 477460 2 Track #7 “Pax Americana” A jazz trio of drums, piano and bass, upbeat tempo. The recording has a really deep soundstage where the drummer is playing around, bass and piano is all upfront and clear. Especially in the beginning the high is being tested, all metal being beat on. As the tune moves on, bass and piano kicks in. The piano is clear but still soft in the sound; the bass is as it would sound if you stand right next to it. And I must stress that it is not muddy at any point, but fast. I believe part of the recording was sponsored by Brüel & Kjær (DPA Microphones).
(Niels Lan Doky, Niels Henning Orsted Petersen and Alex Riel).


Ceep it comming.

That's some great variety there - if I can get hold of good copies and familiarise myself with them all I think any CD would be well and truly tested!

Oh and Take Five is Track 3 on Time Out I thinks.

Great stuff!

I'd add a couple...

'The Chain' by Fleetwood Mac from 'Rumours'. On all but the best CD players that famous bass solo at the end sounds strong on its own and then gets lost when the rest of the band join in. On a better player you should be able to hear that bass line CLEARLY all the way through. Its one of the things that helped my new Harman-Kardon CD player to blow me away.....

Mile Davis' 'A Kind Of Blue'. Its a brilliantly recorded album but can sound over-glossy and offer vague soundstaging on less effective players. If your equipment is getting it right, every instrument should snap into a solid position in the soundstage.

I've found that the most important consideration here is your musical memory. You may only be able to really capture less than 30 seconds of auditory information at a time when the goal is to register in your mind the strengths and or weaknesses of one sound system versus another. Think of this as being like wine taste testing. You should only take in a small mouthful of drink at a time and carefully swirl it around in your mouth. After taking in a few samples you may need to give your tastebuds a rest before you can start objectively judging again. :beer:

The Rain Song from Led Zeppelin's Houses Of The Holy. I just compared two players using this song. One old Yamaha CDX-550 versus a Toshiba SD-3680 with my own versions of the much talked about SD-3960 mods.

With the new Toshiba player I noticed the following: the way the different guitar parts blend together. On the Toshiba they compliment each other much better. Throughout the song the left channel has an acoustic guitar being strummed, while the right has an electric guitar...both accompany each other throughout the song. You can also hear Robert Plant's musical pauses/breathing more clearly.