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Go to vinyl for listening tests

corry2403

corry2403

Active Member
'Go to' vinyl for listening tests

This may have been done already, apologies if it has :beatnik:

Was just listening to Tusk on my newly acquired 9090 and oh boy, Beautiful Child, what a recording! Those backing vocals sound amazing!

So, that got me thinking, any recommendations out there for stonewall beautifully produced vinyl objets d'art? What are your go to LP's for listening tests? Not just albums you like but albums that take you to aural nirvana! :music:

Chick Corea - Return To Forever on ECM is another awesome sounding recording...
 
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Oh, and I like to use Psychedelic Furs Mirror Moves as a pop music test after upgrading any part of my vinyl playback system.
 
I think there has been a similar thread but I'm game; been trying stuff on the recently acquired Empire 398, so the chosen music is fresh in my memory.
I don't know if you're interested in the "why" but I'll throw that in too, where it may be relevant. (These are just what I've been using recently and are new-ish acquisitions)
A) Emmylou Harris "Luxury Liner". If her voice doesn't hang in the air between the speakers or I'm not tapping my toes, something is not right.

B) Supertramp "Breakfast in America". Played on a "non-happening" turntable this will have sibilance on the cymbals, and the bass will be slow and anemic.

C) Elvis Costello "King of America". If there are speed variations, this record will make me sea-sick.

Those are what hit the platter this evening...
 
This has been asked before but never hurts to get fresh responses.

Neil Young Live at Massey Hall (stunning recording and LP)

My next big vinyl purchase is going to be Grateful Dead - Reckoning (Analogue Productions) as I have heard a vinyl rip of this and it is fantastic. Cannot wait to hear it on my analog system.

Dead Can Dance MOFI records - Into the Labyrinth and Spritichaser -- both are truly sonic treats.

Wilco also does a great job with their albums on vinyl.
 
Ths364 said:
I think there has been a similar thread but I'm game; been trying stuff on the recently acquired Empire 398, so the chosen music is fresh in my memory.
I don't know if you're interested in the "why" but I'll throw that in too, where it may be relevant. (These are just what I've been using recently and are new-ish acquisitions)
A) Emmylou Harris "Luxury Liner". If her voice doesn't hang in the air between the speakers or I'm not tapping my toes, something is not right.

B) Supertramp "Breakfast in America". Played on a "non-happening" turntable this will have sibilance on the cymbals, and the bass will be slow and anemic.

C) Elvis Costello "King of America". If there are speed variations, this record will make me sea-sick.

Those are what hit the platter this evening...
Click to expand...

Thanks THS (and everyone else) that's exactly the kind of feedback I was after. I guess we all try to find that listening sweet spot via the equipment, the space and the set-up but that can be all for naught when you play a shonky recording. I have personal reference vinyl and CD's I use, was just curious what others use as their recording benchmarks.

Note that I listen to a broad church of material but mainly lots of Blue Note jazz.

I could also recommend an album by Australian band Elixir (self-titled, 2003) featuring classicaly trained vocalist Katie Noonan, it's a breathtaking album on every level but the production quality is absolutely sensational, as far as I'm aware it was only issued on CD though. Check 'em on youtube or read about 'em here...

http://katienoonan.com/projects/elixir/
 
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