Music to test your setup?

[mart_haj86]

Hi all, just curious what piece(s) of music do you listen to, to really test the full range and quality of your sound system?

Do you have a specific song which test's it to the max? or maybe a specific genre of music?

[dave87]

I did have some THX bass tests around somewhere, they were pretty good for testing the low end...

[jackvdbuk]

just my idea of testing is something super bassy like Disturbed - Down with the sickness
and techno
Daft Punk - Technologic
i suppose thats a bit crap for testing... but meh

dave, sounds good? whered u get em from?

[dave87]

Google 'THX Bass Test' and they are available on the first result

This has got to be my favourite - had the house shaking on my surround sound set at home

[mart_haj86]

Just used that Jurassic one on my Fostex PM1s OMG!, that sounds amazing. It should come with a warning that If you live at home with the parents you may get shouted at

[g8ina]

I use a few DVD Audio discs, which are pretty sweet, but I also have some Sony 24 bit CDs. My fave is the Glagolitic Mass by Janacek. Lots of nice brass and timps.

[GrahamGarside]

I like massive attack for bass and vocal clarity.

[Zak33]

slow up with the bass dudes

What about aural clarity on vocals and harmonies?

No? OK.....try Madonna's Vogue track...that goes low

[dave87]

Originally Posted by Zak33

slow up with the bass dudes

Heh, I dare you to try that in the Saab (unless you've changed it since making the remarks about poverty-spec audio)

Oh, and the Jurassic Park thing does mid-highs aswell - nice crunching of bones

[GrahamGarside]

Jeff Buckley and Martin Grech's music have amazing vocals that really shine on a decent setup.

[unrealrocks]

I have my own test disks I've recorded, various recordings using DPA 4007s and U87

[Funkstar]

Vocals and guitar:
John Martin - Seven Black Roses
Damien Rice - I Remember
Pink Floyd - Time
Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys - Good Virbrations

Brass section:
Pink Floyd - Money

Treble:
Portishead - Cowboys

Base:
Thom York - Atoms for Peace
Portishead - All Mine
Underworld - Push Upstairs
Bjork - Hunter

Bit of everything:
David Bowie - Little Wonder

I know there is a lot more that would be good, but i can't think of them all right now

[kalniel]

Elgar Cello Concerto
Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto
Britten War Requiem.

I need to hear the strings vibrating in all 11 dimensions. The harmonic overtones of the piano, and make out every instrument and voice in the double orchestra, chorus chamber orchestra and boys choir.

[Nick F]

6 Channel Surround Test File

Some good files here.

[bigblue]

How did I know there'd be a few recommendations for stuff to rattle the floorboards but very little of the high stuff Everyone loves a bit of bass !

I've have a few HDCD discs that are pretty good for testing. One that's particularly good as a demo disc when folks ask to have a listen is Spirit by Jewel. Maybe not everyones choice of music but really well recorded and really close-miked stuff. There's a few tracks on that album that have incredible scale, in particular "Down So Long". It has a really quiet opening where an el cheapo hi-fi will sound as if someone is frying chips in the background. On a decent set-up it's just the vocal. Then the band burst in and it's hairs standing up on your arms stuff. "Life uncommon" is another good test track from that album. It's not stuff I'd ever listen to in the car, but it's great to amaze myself with the wonder of hi-fi.

Also, you have the classic Oasis test ! If you listen to something well recorded then put Oasis on, if you can listen to any more than 30 secs there's something wrong with yer hi-fi !

[GrahamGarside]

I count 4 post of people saying 'good for bass' and 6 for overall sound so we aren't all bass heads

I use Phil Collins stuff for seeing how well badly recorded stuff can be made to sound (I don't mean the music by the way merely the production is incredibly thin and weak)