Ray Lamontagne-born to love you Dire straits-you and your friend, your latest trick, ride across the river Bob James quarter-feel like makin live, rocket man remix Billy eillish (great vocals)-power, everything I wanted, when the party's over Anything Cindy Bradley and Boney, James, Brian Culbertson, too many to list! Good video, we need more of these!
Firstly thanks for the videos I have learned a lot listening and watching you. My go to tracks. Jennifer Warnes - Somewhere somebody. Female vocals Martin Taylor - Polka dots and Moonbeams. Instrumental guitar lows and highs Duke Ellington - Three J's Blues Impact and live music Joe Bonamassa - Just 'cos you can don't mean you should. Great blues tune space for all instruments. Dire Straits - You and your friend. Great lows and instrumentals, balanced song.
My 5 test tracks are: Beatles - Come Together (must be blown away with the bass guitar) Beatles - A Day in The Life (Ringo's congas must be audible all the way through) Zep - When the Levee Breaks (must punch me with the bass drum) Massive Attack - Angel (must thrill with dynamics) Beastie Boys - Slow Ride (check this one out - it should shock you with the speed of percussion and depth of bass) Just realised I am a basshead
I usually use the same five songs if possible. 1. Duran Duran - New Religion - mainly for its driving rhythm, Simon's vocals singing back to himself and Andy Taylor's attacking guitar play. 2. Terrorvision - Don't Shoot My Dog - Leigh Marklew's bassline will test any amplifier 3. Depeche Mode - Blasphemous Rumours - mainly for how an amplifier portrays the intro. 4. Puccini - Un bel di Vedremo sang by Maria Callas - growing up the youngest of three siblings I wasn't allowed to play their records, so I listened to Dad's vinyl. I adore this opera and if this Aria doesn't break my heart whilst listening then the equipment being tested is deemed naff. 5. Tchaikovsky's - Swan Lake (excerpts) again from listening to Dad's vinyl as a kid. I just love the pieces of music and I use this as a classical tester.
Good choice: Here's my choice for a wide spectrum, full system aesthetic and technical workout: Diana Karl - East of the sun, Nat King Cole - When I fall in love, ZZ Top - Blue Jean Blues, War - City Country City, Elbow - Starlings (bonus 'world' classical track: Armand Omar - Bab Aziz). Enjoy. ...and thank's for all the other top 5's - this'll keep me listening for weeks
1. The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson from the album Bad - stereo separation, sound stage, bass and treble response. 2. Over the Rainbow by Bodil Niska from the album Night Time - sound stage and presence, the first notes from the saxaphone should sound like they are in your room. 3. Detour Ahead by Eliane Elias on the album Something For You - one of the best female vocal tests I've heard. 4. Bump by Yosi Horikawa on the album Vapor - Depth and width of sound stage is really impressive on this track. 5. El Vito by Wolfgang Haffner with Studnitsky on the album Kind of Spain - Excellent for testing presence and sub-bass.
@@Gavrik_Korogodskiy Instead of being dismissive and condescending about a certain genre that you obviously don't appreciate, why don't you actually LIST your Top 5 Demo Tracks from the genres that you do actually appreciate and listen to?! That would potentially be useful and productive. Otherwise you're just wasting Internet bandwidth and everyone's time. Cheers
This is my list, feedback welcome. Gloria Estefan - Get on your feet (complexity, dynamics, speed and female vocal). Nat King Cole - Nature Boy (male vocal character, older recording) Heart - Barracuda (guitars, female vocals, drumming) Herb Alpert - Rotation (smoothness, delicacy, layering) Talvin Singh - Butterfly (Bass extension and rapid treble over the top)
Not an easy question to answer but two that I pull out to demo equipment are: Solo female voice: Spanish Harlem sung by Rebecca Pidgeon (The Raven - Chesky Records) Big Band instruments: Caravan by Harry James (Still Harry After All These Years - Sheffield Lab)
I just went through this exercise myself and what I found is that while the quality and content of the recording important I think what really matters is that you pick songs that move you. When testing equipment I am more interested in finding out if it reprodcues music that I love in a way that moves me than whether or not it makes male vocals or female vocals or bass sound good. I don't listen to a lot of female jazz/pop vocalists so whatever system sounds good to me will surely suffice for genres that I don't normally listen to. I couldn't agree more with Kind of Blue as a reference though. Pick one track off that album and one energetic rock song and you should be good.
Loved the way you explained the apparent location of the musicians. I think this is something only keen listeners observe and enjoy. It even adds a new dimension to the music itself. Keep listening! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Hi..there.. An interesting conversation indeed.. I will certainly try some of your recommendations on my all new hi-fi set up. Acoustic, Nirvana here I come.. Thanks for posting ..KCB👍🙂🇬🇧
Hi Tarun, excellent selection, very much on point for the job (and great music altogether). One of my favorite tracks for this purpose is also Donny Hathaway's The Ghetto (live) from "These songs for you, live". Great music in its own right but appropriate for dynamics and multiple instrument singling out. Just sharing. Thank you for your work! Much appreciated.
thank you for sharing these tracks and your insight into what to look out for each in track. Based on a louspeaker placement video from Dynaudio my two favourites are "The Pink Panther" theme song by Henri Mancini for instrument seperation and soundstage and Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" for finding that low frequency sweet spot for your listening position but also how well the speakers handle the variation in the bass line.
Hi Tarun, another very interesting video. My five would be: A Kind of Blue, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto ( a new recording by Mutter,Yo Yo Ma and Barenboim.A MQA recording that really grabbed me), Weather Report’s Bird Land ( Heavy Weather recording ), Bill Evans Peace Piece and anything by Blossom Dearie. I would like to give you an update on my tone arm bounce because of my wooden floor. I gave up trying to isolate my LP12 t/table and decided to try to isolate the complete Hi Fi rack.The setup I finally ended up with is : 8 of your washing machine dampers in 4 pairs ( large diameter to large diameter) on the carpet, on top of which is a 400x600x25 mm MDF board. On top of the board are 8 Sorbathane hemispheres ( more of these later) on which sits the bottom shelf of the rack. Then on the top shelf 4 sorbathane hemispheres under the t/table and it works. Regarding the sorbathane, i was using items I purchased from Amazon or EBAY which didn’t work ( to stiff ). I found a company on line called QTA System’s who supply loud speaker parts and sorbathane There website explains about the required amount of compression needed to work correctly and has tables of sizes and hardness for the weight of the unit to be supported. The company was very helpful with suggestions for my problem Hope this may be of help to some of your viewers. Regards Richard Herbert
Hi Richard, thank you for your track selections and the update. Looks like you have been on quite a journey to get the vibrations under control. I know you have probably done this but have you checked the tone arm tracking weight. Normally should be between 2 or 3 grams.
A British Audiophile hi Tarun,I have had the tracking weight up and down and finally set the weight the Linn dealer had it set when I had the LP12 serviced. He also fitted a new cartridge. Regards Richard
Whenever i am in doubts or want a quick insight to one system i play Mancinis Pink Panther Theme. Great bass crossed with trumpets, flute, sax, percusions...you name it... If it is presented correctly you know you did something right while setting things up. My system is modest with Audio Analogue Crescendo int. amp, Marantz 63 mkII K.I. signature cd player and Jamo 7.5 floorstanders (Usher's x-719 compass are being awaited at father's house until kids are prone from damaging silk tweeters 😁 )
Hi Tarun, Great video. Here are some of my favorites from my Roon Equipment Test playlist 1. Gentle Rain by Houston Person and Ron Carter. - Perfect track for stereo separation, soundstage midrange and especially bass. A duet with Person on one side playing sax and Ron Carter playing double bass on the other side. The ultimate bass test! 2. Allan Taylor playing Tennessee Waltz on Behind the Mix - Very well recorded test of male vocals and guitar. 3. Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen w/Jennifer Warnes from The Essential Leonard Cohen - Very well recorded and great male and female vocal test, though Warnes sings backup. 4. I don’t have a good female lead vocal track selected yet. But I think a lot of tracks of Norah Jones or Diana Krall with only Piano would be great. 5. You definitely need a piano track and for me Keith Jarrett is IT. I use One for Majid a lot. But you can pick almost any of his piano trio or solo paino tracks. Bonuses: Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life midrange test with Pat’s guitar. Jaco on bass and the transients high notes of Bob Moses cymbals. Also for soundstage and male vocal I like (it’s just me) Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman.
Thank you for your suggestions and great analysis Richard. You mentioned a couple of tracks that I am not familiar with. I will have to check them out 😊👍
Excellent. Thanks for this. Give Bob Florence Edition’s “Now Playing” a try someday. I like the way the music builds and then tapers off to the intro tempo.
1)Beat Hotel-Allan T aylor( Strong, unique midrange instrument with great male (ish)vocal quality presentation 2)Hell Hounds of Krim-King Crimson( Base and mid range) 3)Way down deep-Jennifer Warnes(Very soulful female vocal with deep drum kicks garnished with gentle mid and high frequency instruments) 4)Just like Love-Steve straus( Touching male vocals with fascinating mid range instrumentation) 5)Bird's Teardrop-Estas Tonne.Peia(Magical guitar play with angle like female vocals)
My Picks would be: 1. Robert miles - Children (Dream version) 2. Dave Brubeck - Take Five 3. Eva Cassidy - Imagine. 4. Pink Floyd - High Hopes 5. Michael Jackson - Thriller Think this would be a pretty good for system testing ...
I needed six..... Massive Attack - Karmacoma (for tuneful, deep bass); Brian Eno - Kurt's Rejoinder (for speed & dynamics); Leftfield - El Cid (for bass extension and resonance); Joni Mitchell - A Case Of You (for female vocals/acoustic instruments); Pink Floyd - Dogs (for imaging & soundstage); Brian Eno - Energy Fools The Magician (for subtlety & detail)
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac is a favourite test track of mine. the bass line clarity, listening out for the different areas where the high hat is getting hit. Great vocal range as well.
Great suggestions. I especially love the blues album. A great sounding album I never get tired of is Convergence with Malia & Boris Blank. It's worth trying out.
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, You'd be so Nice to Come Home To. Also recorded in 1959 . It's my go to and sounds especially good on Magnepan speakers
I use the following tracks to evaluate headphones, but they apply to 2 channel audio systems in general. Vicky’s 5 Tracks for Evaluating Headphones 🎧: ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- 1. The New Appalachians - Wayfaring Stranger (2015) 🎤 Mid-range and sibilance test. This is a Chesky binaural recording. Noah Wall's bittersweet voice should come across clear and bright, but not sibilant. 2. Infected Mushroom - Spitfire (2017) 🥁 Bass impact and definition test. The synth bass is fast, detailed, and hard hitting. Each segment should stay in its own sound space. If the system can produce sub-bass, this track will let you know. 3. Radiohead - Nude (2007) 🎹 Soundstage and imaging test. The overall presentation should remain warm and laid back throughout the song. Only Thom Yorke's vocals, high hats, and certain elements appear forward. 4. Luiz Bonfá - Inquietação (1962) 🎻 Details and resolution test. This bossa nova classic has been remastered and reissued too many times. I prefer the hi-res download of the original "O Violão e o Samba" recording. 5. Therion - Enter Vril-Ya (2000) 🎸 Compressed and real-world music test. Unless you listen exclusively to well-recorded music, you should probably know how badly the system sounds with a typical "loudness war" recording that you love.
Thanks for sharing, Vicky. I agree with you on the last one! Whatever you demo, make sure that you like how it sounds with music that you typically listen to. 95% of my music library is punk-rock, metal, and grunge. lol
Thanks, Tarun! I love the details you provide on each of the tracks. One thing I noticed on Flamenco Sketches is that Jimmy Cobb is not only delicately playing the cymbals but you should be able to hear him softly scraping a brush with his other hand the whole time! Amazing detail on this track and beautifully recorded!
My top 5 tracks: Peder af Ugglas Blue Departure Charly Antolini That´s me Röyksopp The Alcoholic The kinks Deaf of a clown Roger Water The ballad of Bill Hubbard Maria Mena I was made for loving you I´m lucky to have my own listening room with room acoustic treatment, I´ve had many high end speakers such as the Infinity IRS Beta, Wilson and many others, I was never a 100% happy with the sound of so called high end speakers and ended up with an old pair of Tannoy FSM and a pair of REL subs. It feels like i´m in the studio engineers recording seat on every track i play, imaging, 3D, vocals, everything sounds so natural and real.
Very nice presentation, thought provoking information. I would like to provoke the thought that a cut that one knows but in a version one is unfamiliar with, can be instructional for listening. So for instance my copy of Kind of Blue has, "Flamenco Sketches, alternative cut." What this offers, within a familiar context, is surprise. Surprise readjusts the mind, heightens awareness, I feel. Thanks for the provocation!
Thanks for the videos, they are very helpful. I have a few of the albums on your list. I have been getting into the hi-fi for the past 10 years, and am always impressed with how my music sounds on my new gear. I have some regular albums and tracks I use when I am testing new gear. Herbie Hancock - Dis is Da Drum is a good album. Curtis Mayfield "Superfly." Led Zeppelin "No Quarter," and Kool and the Gang "Summer Madness," are on rotation.
My go to is Ryan Adams Ashes & Fire - have setup the system so it sounds like he is in the room just in front of me with drummer a metre or two behind him, can almost walk around the stage and the bass notes kick in your chest. Great slow acoustic album
Hi Tarun, just wanted to say that on your recommendation I have just listened to Harpslinger by Carey Bell….omg sounds so amazing, quite rare to find a recording that sounds this good. Thank you and more of the same please, good work!
I'm sat here with Zack de la Rocha and he wants to let you know that he and the rest of the Rage against the Machine boys are thrilled to have made the grade. Tom Morello lead guitarist couldn't believe that he was on a list that contained 2 of his heroes Miles Davis and Celine Dion.
Wow Dan, that is amazing!!! It is me that needs to thank them for countless hours of listening pleasure. I am so delighted that they got to watch my video. Thank you for letting me know. 😊😊😊👍👍👍
Enoying the Comments and Suggestions so I'll add some of my own: Led Zepplin - No Quarter (Remaster) Jennifer Warnes - The Hunter Espers - Riding Bill Withers - Lovely Day The Aristocrats - Bad Asteroid Eva Cassidy - Ain't No Sunshine Nils Lofgren - Keith Don't Go
Hi Roger, I almost went with “Lights of Louisianne” from that album and last minute swapped it for Celine & Barbara as it is a bit easier to judge the vocals on that track.
I really enjoy your videos as they are both informative and delivered in a positive, inviting way, thank you. You asked what some of us listen to so I’ll respond briefly; Dominique Fils-Aime Stay Tuned! Album is excellent as is Mark Knopfler’s Tracker. For something more energetic and demanding my latest go-to is Tool’s Fear Fear Inoculum. Thanks again and I am going to sit down and give Carey Bell a listen.
4 out of 5 yes. Yes. Yes. But Streisand and Celine? Really. You can listen to that more than once? Man, you are tough. That is taking your dedication to our hobby beyond most limits. Thanks for this.
Great lists of suggestions for me to sample for days: Hopefully without repeating the popular ones already suggested, here’s my list: Test: male voice & acoustic guitar Song: St. James Infirmery Artist: Hans Theessink Label: Blue Groove Listen for: sharp attack of guitar strings and decay, full male voice Test: soundstage Song: Agnus Dei by Barber Artist: Voce8 Label: Decca Listen for: height and depth of soundstage, natural purity of perfect voices Test: Mid bass Song: Basic Drummer Free Improvisation Artist: Jim Keltner Label: Sheffield Listen for: neutral mid bass, treble Test: treble Song: Poison & Wine Album: Barton Hollow Artist: The Civil Wars Label: Columbia-Sony Listen for: any sibilance and/or congestion of male-female high voices, guitar and cymbals Test: sub bass Song: The Bells of St Anne de Beaupre Album: The Power and the Glory, Vol. 1 Artist: Alexander Russell (composer), Lloyd Holzgraf (organist) Label: M & K Realtime Records List for: discernible sub bass notes, deep soundstage, blackness, dynamic range
Tarun, thank you for your informative videos. I still have a yellow vinyl stereo test LP that my parents purchased in the early 60s (late 50s?). Always a nostalgic joy to listen! My top demo track for female vocals is listening to Clare Torry on Pink Floyd's Great Gig in the Sky. I remember listening to the Dark Side of the Moon album with my dad shortly after purchasing a pair of Infinity 4000 speakers that, to my ear, had exceptional accuracy and realism. This was late 70s/early 80s. As soon as I heard her sing, I was hooked. She was in the room with us! Years later, in my comically brief tenure as a sales consultant for United Audio (later Tweeter), that was my #1 song when a customer asked me to recommend a demo track. (By the way, your speaker placement video confirmed that the speaker placement in our store's audiophile listening room was pathetically poor. No wonder I was never blown away with the sound in that room...)
Back in the mid-80s The Blue Nile, It's Immaterial and Talk Talk were gear demo favourites. On a side note, Talk Talk's "The Colour Of Spring" album was the reason I bought my first CD player - every copy of the initial vinyl run had the same pressing flaw on Side 2.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I'm good, thanks! Currently enjoying a very early CD player (Ferguson CD02 - behind the fascia it's a Sony CDP-102). Sony hadn't developed a digital filter chip at the time, so it features an analogue filter - the high frequencies are sweet!
Great video :) Respectfully I'd suggest trying to get a less 'roomy' sound on your voice - maybe a lav mic. i think it would greatly improve the feel of your videos and would be appreciated by audiophiles :)
Nice channel. No B.S.. BUT I am amazed at how reflective your room sounds. I presume the mic that you are using is a condenser, try a cheaper dynamic or lav as already suggested.
Great promotion of the idea of not only auditioning system components with several carefully chosen and familiar pieces of music, but limiting that selection to just four or five. With those, one can either audition an entire system elsewhere, keeping in mind the entire system includes the listening environment as an important component, or audition individual components in A-B fashion on the system and in the room one is most familiar with at home. I am inclined towards more modern jazz selections, but I'll check these out for audition purposes, thanks for another great video.
Great effect to get the viewers attention. Well done! I suggest adding, The Missing Piece - Peder Af Ugglas - Blue Departure. A great track for soundstage. Listen and place the different instruments in space. 2. Baba O’Riley - The Who. Listen as each instrument comes in and is added to the mix. Hard rock at its best. 3. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley. From the 1st breath and sigh to the end it’s the best test of the male voice. Unreal. 4. Telegraph Road - Dire Straits. You can choose almost any Straits or Mark Knopfler track but this is a workout. 5. This is the Picture (excellent birds) - Peter Gabriel. Dynamics, bass, drums, male and female vocals all in one.
Since the late 80’s, I’ve used the Dire Straits Brothers in Arms CD. I’ve had to purchase many copies through the years. It will easily show any flaws in your system. Today, having it on your phone is a must. You might go to an audio store to listen to audio equipment and may be in a building that shields cell phone signal.
Wow this comment section is filled with great recommendations! Thanks for sharing everyone, I can't wait to give them all a good listen :) Let me try to contribute with 5 tracks that I think would be fantastic for various demo purposes: 1. Hans Zimmer - Stillsuits 2. Corpo-Mente - Fia 3. Opeth - The Leper Affinity 4. Infected Mushroom - Stretched 5. Snowy White - Bird of Paradise I have to confess I'm still young, ignorant and poor, so I haven't actually had the opportunity to listen to these tracks on a good sound system. I'm planning on getting one soon, so I'm looking into it (thanks for the help Tarun!), and I'm very much looking forward to listening to all these great tracks.
Nice. I think you should go your own way. Most audiophiles seem to stick to what old people told them was supposed to be good. Albums from over 50 yrs ago that quite honestly dont sound as good as they try so hard to make them out to be. Maybe try Dream Theater's album Awake for an alterative to Opeth, which didnt sound particularly amazing.
Good stuff, especially the Miles. I would add, presumptuously, some *solo piano.* Solo piano -- solo because the recording engineer has full options as to the room, the piano, and listening position. Piano because this instrument has an incredibly wide dynamic range. It has the softest pianissimo sounds and huge fortissimo chords. The piano has giant transients caused by the striking impacts of the strings followed by the resonance of the sound board. 50 dB ranges aren't uncommon. Also, a good piano recording will show off or show up a system that can't handle the huge transient spikes with clarity while still showing a clear, sweet character of its quietest and simplest passages. Add to that the piano's widest range of *fundamental* frequencies, from 32 Hz to 4186 Hz. Just the 2nd harmonic of C-8 is 8372 Hz, and the 3rd harmonic is over 12 kHz. And on, harmonics above that. With a dynamic range of 50 dB and a tonal range from 32 Hz to beyond human hearing, it's no wonder that recording 'engineers' obsess over truth in capturing piano sound. I personally like the recent recordings of pianists of the Jussen Brothers (esp. Beethoven), and those of Lang Lang (esp. Piano Book, the Schubert). Both are done by DG, who unarguably know what they are doing with these. Both artists demand the utmost from the recordists. Just one man's view. [Now, I'm back to listening to Miles, streamed from the master tapes at 24/192k]
I have particular songs I test stereos to -Honeydrippers " I get a thrill". Doobie Bros " you're made that way", Al Dimeola "Elegant Gypsy Suite", Boz Scaggs " harbor lights", sting " fortress around your heart", Joe Jackson " stepping out" , Robert Cray " right next door because of me", Sade - " Maureen", Chicago " hanky panky / lifesaver", steely Dan " black cow", Bruce Springsteen " tenth Avenue Freezeout"
My list is a pretty short one. For testing speakers and headphones: a) Private Investigations by Dire Straits, on Love Over Gold; b) Give It Up To Love by Mighty Sam McClain, on Give It Up To Love. For testing headphones: c) Midnight Rambler live by The Rolling Stones on Get Yer Ya-Yas Out. Private Investigations has one of the finest tests of imaging and soundstage with a variety of instruments and sounds in the background that moved during the course of this song that will really tell if you’re speakers are capable of imaging or not. Later in the song, there are a set of footsteps that move across the soundstage and you should be able to to follow them from beyond one speaker to beyond the other. There is another effect that on a poor quality system sounds like any sort of glass object like a bottle clanking in the background, but on better quality systems, it can be identified as a wine glass breaking. There is a heartbeat sound that sounds like a dull “thud, thud” on lesser equipment, but comes across as a sharp “tunk, tunk“ on a better speaker. The keyboards sound a bit digital and metallic on a cheaper, lesser quality system, but sound a bit richer, more like a piano on a better system. Sam McClain’s vocals on Give It Up To Love sound thin and gravelly on poor quality speakers. On good quality speakers they open up, and you will discover that he is probably the finest male blues singer of all time, with a rich, highly emotive voice. There’s also a crescendo that builds on this track that is uplifting with the majesty of a tall mountain peak, heard through good equipment, but is the sonic equivalent of a small foothill on lesser equipment. The album was also recorded by Audioquest and it is of exceptionally high recording quality. Live albums from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s that do not feature the Allman Brothers at the Filmore East venue tend to be rather far from what one would use for an audio test track, but there are significant sonic features on Midnight Rambler from the Get Yer Ya-Yas Out album highlight the difference between better and lesser headphones. On cheaper headphones, the song starts with a dull rumble, but on better headphones, you can hear each string Bill Wyman plucks on his bass distinctly and powerfully. At about the 2/3 mark as the song has really slowed down, Mick Taylor‘s solo develops more savagely yet more musically than virtually any heavy metal solo, if played on a good set of headphones. On lesser headphones it’s not as notable.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 you are very welcome. I really dislike what a lot of HiFi dealerships do with these specially-produced, effect-ridden "High End" music productions. This is borderlining on marketing strategies worthy of Bose. Personally, I really like Phil Upchurch's "Whatever Happened To The Blues" album for listening tests. It has some really deep electric bass lines, great drums and a beautiful jazz-blues guitar played by Upchurch himself.
Thanks again Tarun My reference demo tracks are celine dion immortality, the power of love , think twice and peabo Bryson can you stop you the rain. These songs have unique artistic characteristics no other songs have, especially the introduction of Immortality and can you stop the rain. And i feel no any system is capable enough to reveal their majestic and sublime virtues. Kind regards and best wishes
'Kind of Blue' has so many great tracks and such sublime musicianship. Bill Evans in particular just pushes the beat forward with minimal effort. And every solo by all the players is just perfect with no one "shouting look at me". Imho, in the pre-digital days recording engineers were more careful with microphone placement and with the capture of the signal on the master tape. There was noway to "fix" a bad recording.
Yes! What a collaboration. Never a competition, as sometimes happens (Hey, not bad, Dude, but watch this!). So relaxed, each contribution. So seemingly effortless. Especially Bill Evans, who often just adds the glue to hold it together. Flamenco Sketches is evocative, but so subtly so.
@@jimshaw899 Every player, during every solo makes you ask to hear the next note. And it's always the right one! Nothing to be added and nothing extra. For me Beethoven symphonies are just like that too. Where is the score going next, then aha, of course.
Our test tracks are pretty similar. My video is about a year old no key changes other than I think I would add sure thing - st germain for wavy bass line against some isolated slides on the strings. Anyways im off to spin Bitches Brew still my fave MD album. Keep it Posh & Proper Pip pip cheerio
Hi sir we’ll done as always . Your approach is always well thought out and considered . But ultimately backed up with a considerable knowledge of your subject. You are my go to source , along with Paul rigbey for unbiased informative information . Best wishes and kind regards from Mike in the U.K. 👍
Hi Tarun I no longer have a list of tracks to use for demos ( I'm old) but I do remember back in the late 70s being "trapped "in a hotel room at a hi-fi exhibition with Ivor Tiefenbrun of Linn (sorry I have no idea how to spell that) and a group of hi-fi journalists, he was demonstrating an LP12 comparing it to another turntable. He was using Dire Straits Sultans of Swing and the main talking point was can you hear the rhythm guitar equally on both turntables, I did manage to escape but did use that track ,amongst others, to demo equipment for a long time afterwards. Thanks for that Tarun your list took me back a few years.
Wow great reference tracks! Miles Davis and RATM are on my list as well. I would like to mention ~four others I often use for reference: Michael Jackson - Human Nature or Thriller (anything recorded by the late great Bruce Swedien), Beck - Morning, Pharrel - Gust Of Wind, Bob Marley - Natural Mystic. And recently i added Lost Lenore by Charlotte Gainsborough. Hope this might inspire new listening experience for others :-)
Great! Thanks allot. Will try them all. I have used ECM recordings in the past. One is particularly good, and not only for testing: KHMER, Nils Petter Molvaer. From my experience, if the system sounds good playing that one , it will sound great with anything else.
Wonderful channel you have here, Tarun. One of my fetish tracks is "Teo" on the Miles Davis album "Someday my Prince will Come". On a different note, I'd be interested on your reviewing the new trend in Class-D amp designs by Bruno Putzeys (N-Core and Purifi). I reckon that KEF also deserves some attention (especially since they introduced their Reference, R series and the new Meta designs). There is also something to be said for studio monitors like Genelec's that have lots if interesting calibration features. In amp design, there's also the trend of THX AAA circuit topology, as exemplified by the Benchmark amp, which measures beyond anything else in the market. Lastly, there's a new trend of Chinese designed and build DACs, that offer top-tier value for money in resolution and distortion performance.
Thank you Phil. I am talking to manufacturer and almost all have responded positively. Most are struggling to fulfill orders at the moment due to strong demand (people spend more time at home i guess) and problems with their supply chain. The availability of demo gear to review is thin on the ground. Would love to get an affordable N-core amp in for review. Then compare it to one of Bruno’s latest designs at Purifi. Watch this space 😉👍
I'm not sure how useful for solid state owners this is other than people who can just go out and buy new kit if their present isn't coming up to scratch on some of the tracks! But its really useful for me with a hybrid amp. I can roll the tubes and see what changes thats makes on the tracks Tarun mentioned, nice! ;)
Wow this is cool. My fav audiophile demo was Larry carlton’s “on solid ground” album demo-in 1989 on a state of the art NaD receiver, followed by Fagen’s Nightfly and Sting’s Nothing Like the Sun…
Thanks for another great episode! I will be auditioning some Proacs on the weekend (D2, D2R and DT8). Got inspired by this video and put together a list of tracks to try out: - Song For My Father - Horace Silver - Number One - Manu Katche - Keith Don’t Go - Nils Lofgren - Pearls - Kandace Springs & Avishai Cohen - Hungry Ghost - Mehldau & Guiliana - Vivaldi, the Four Seasons, Concerto in Gm, RV 315 “Summer - Avi Avital & Venice Baroque Orchestra - Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
![If you can't hear this then you're not an audiophile [See description for link to followup video]](/img/n.gif)
Ray Lamontagne-born to love you
Dire straits-you and your friend, your latest trick, ride across the river
Bob James quarter-feel like makin live, rocket man remix
Billy eillish (great vocals)-power, everything I wanted, when the party's over
Anything Cindy Bradley and Boney, James, Brian Culbertson, too many to list! Good video, we need more of these!
Thank you 😊
Billy Ellish and her brother's " I Love You " is in heavy rotation in my rig Holmes - solid - mixes with Jimi's Castles Made of Sand easily .......
Massive Attack - Mezzanine album is a good test for how resolving and composed your system is.
Thank you Din 😉
Going to listen to this
That's some really weird shit right there
You must be a fan of what hifi
@@welshrarebit9238 Lol. Is that what they use?
Firstly thanks for the videos I have learned a lot listening and watching you.
My go to tracks.
Jennifer Warnes - Somewhere somebody. Female vocals
Martin Taylor - Polka dots and Moonbeams. Instrumental guitar lows and highs
Duke Ellington - Three J's Blues Impact and live music
Joe Bonamassa - Just 'cos you can don't mean you should. Great blues tune space for all instruments.
Dire Straits - You and your friend. Great lows and instrumentals, balanced song.
Thank you for sharing your suggestions George. I greatly appreciate your support and kind words of encouragement 😊👍
My 5 test tracks are:
Beatles - Come Together (must be blown away with the bass guitar)
Beatles - A Day in The Life (Ringo's congas must be audible all the way through)
Zep - When the Levee Breaks (must punch me with the bass drum)
Massive Attack - Angel (must thrill with dynamics)
Beastie Boys - Slow Ride (check this one out - it should shock you with the speed of percussion and depth of bass)
Just realised I am a basshead
Great suggestion. I have most of those recordings. 😉👍
Very interesting, I didn't know there were congas in a day in the life! Time to re-listen.
What I like about your tracks is they are also great songs.
Led Zeppelin Love the Massive Attack album but not to sure about using that Zep track as a test !
I usually use the same five songs if possible.
1. Duran Duran - New Religion - mainly for its driving rhythm, Simon's vocals singing back to himself and Andy Taylor's attacking guitar play.
2. Terrorvision - Don't Shoot My Dog - Leigh Marklew's bassline will test any amplifier
3. Depeche Mode - Blasphemous Rumours - mainly for how an amplifier portrays the intro.
4. Puccini - Un bel di Vedremo sang by Maria Callas - growing up the youngest of three siblings I wasn't allowed to play their records, so I listened to Dad's vinyl. I adore this opera and if this Aria doesn't break my heart whilst listening then the equipment being tested is deemed naff.
5. Tchaikovsky's - Swan Lake (excerpts) again from listening to Dad's vinyl as a kid. I just love the pieces of music and I use this as a classical tester.
Thank you Steven 👍
Nice list 🎶📃
Good choice: Here's my choice for a wide spectrum, full system aesthetic and technical workout:
Diana Karl - East of the sun, Nat King Cole - When I fall in love, ZZ Top - Blue Jean Blues, War - City Country City, Elbow - Starlings (bonus 'world' classical track: Armand Omar - Bab Aziz). Enjoy. ...and thank's for all the other top 5's - this'll keep me listening for weeks
Thank you Pip 👍
1. The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson from the album Bad - stereo separation, sound stage, bass and treble response.
2. Over the Rainbow by Bodil Niska from the album Night Time - sound stage and presence, the first notes from the saxaphone should sound like they are in your room.
3. Detour Ahead by Eliane Elias on the album Something For You - one of the best female vocal tests I've heard.
4. Bump by Yosi Horikawa on the album Vapor - Depth and width of sound stage is really impressive on this track.
5. El Vito by Wolfgang Haffner with Studnitsky on the album Kind of Spain - Excellent for testing presence and sub-bass.
Thank you 😊
Michael Jackson?
@@chasingpowder200 Yup! It's a great recording.
Did you hear about the stuff with the kids?
@@chasingpowder200 I heard allegations. I didn't hear anything was proven. Dude was definitely a weirdo, regardless it's still a solid track.
geez, no room treatment?
@@kewlbug old vid with mic problems 😉
I love your list! Thank you for the introduction to Carey Bell!
You are welcome Champster. Thank you for watching and commenting 😊👍
That Carey Bell Harpslinger album is gold! Thanks for introducing me to this gem.
Most welcome 😊👍
If I was listening to jazz, a phone speaker would be enough.
@@Gavrik_Korogodskiy
Instead of being dismissive and condescending about a certain genre that you obviously don't appreciate, why don't you actually LIST your Top 5 Demo Tracks from the genres that you do actually appreciate and listen to?!
That would potentially be useful and productive. Otherwise you're just wasting Internet bandwidth and everyone's time.
Cheers
@@bbfoto7248 pakito - are you ready, Why Not - Ghostface Playa, Vivaldi - spring
@@bbfoto7248 Don't say that I'm dumb in this way. My list: Vivaldi - spring, ost matrix(all), Madonna - night, Viktor Coi - peremen, Japan drums
This is my list, feedback welcome.
Gloria Estefan - Get on your feet (complexity, dynamics, speed and female vocal).
Nat King Cole - Nature Boy (male vocal character, older recording)
Heart - Barracuda (guitars, female vocals, drumming)
Herb Alpert - Rotation (smoothness, delicacy, layering)
Talvin Singh - Butterfly (Bass extension and rapid treble over the top)
Great choices Gemma. Thank you for sharing 😊👍
Was not expecting an RATM as your 5th track, love it!
Thx 😉
Brilliant recommendation for the Carey Bell album. I'd missed that one. Thanks very much.
Thank you Gary 😊👍
I second that
Wow! Carey Bell is it. Great separation and clarity. Thanks for the suggestions.
Glad you liked it 😊
Not an easy question to answer but two that I pull out to demo equipment are:
Solo female voice: Spanish Harlem sung by Rebecca Pidgeon (The Raven - Chesky Records)
Big Band instruments: Caravan by Harry James (Still Harry After All These Years - Sheffield Lab)
Thank you ssks. I have Rebecca Pidgeon in my playlist but couldn’t find Caravan by Harry James on Tidal. Found some of his other tracks though 😊
I just went through this exercise myself and what I found is that while the quality and content of the recording important I think what really matters is that you pick songs that move you. When testing equipment I am more interested in finding out if it reprodcues music that I love in a way that moves me than whether or not it makes male vocals or female vocals or bass sound good. I don't listen to a lot of female jazz/pop vocalists so whatever system sounds good to me will surely suffice for genres that I don't normally listen to.
I couldn't agree more with Kind of Blue as a reference though. Pick one track off that album and one energetic rock song and you should be good.
Thank you for sharing Marc 😊
The Pot, by TOOL is one of those songs for me. I know just what you mean.
Loved the way you explained the apparent location of the musicians. I think this is something only keen listeners observe and enjoy. It even adds a new dimension to the music itself. Keep listening! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Thank you Freddy 😊👍
Hi..there..
An interesting conversation indeed..
I will certainly try some of your recommendations on my all new hi-fi set up.
Acoustic, Nirvana here I come..
Thanks for posting ..KCB👍🙂🇬🇧
Thx 👍
Hi Tarun, excellent selection, very much on point for the job (and great music altogether).
One of my favorite tracks for this purpose is also Donny Hathaway's The Ghetto (live) from "These songs for you, live". Great music in its own right but appropriate for dynamics and multiple instrument singling out. Just sharing.
Thank you for your work! Much appreciated.
Thank you Pedro. I have that song in my playlist. Love it. It may feature in a follow up video 😊👍
Brilliant list! Duke Ellington is absolutely mind blowing on my little cheap setup!
Thank you kindly 😊👍
I particularly liked the context you gave to the Miles Davis track identifying the musicians, the instruments and so on.
Thank you Max. I appreciate your support 😊👍
I agree! Good confirmation on where the players are in the soundstage!
Thank you Mark 😊👍
thank you for sharing these tracks and your insight into what to look out for each in track. Based on a louspeaker placement video from Dynaudio my two favourites are "The Pink Panther" theme song by Henri Mancini for instrument seperation and soundstage and Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" for finding that low frequency sweet spot for your listening position but also how well the speakers handle the variation in the bass line.
Thank you Thomas 😊
Very good. Boz Scaggs - Greatest hits live. Mahler Symphony No 2 Resurrection W Alan Gilbert.
Thank you 😊
Another great video,thanks.going to copy your playlist and test it out on my system tonight
Cool 😎 I hope you enjoy the tracks 😊
Thank you Tarun, really appreciate this and introducing us to some great tracks and genres,
Thank you for watching and commenting 😊👍
Very well done, I liked that the links on the description takes you to the actual part on the video.
Thank you. I appreciate you watching and commenting 😊👍
Hi Tarun, another very interesting video. My five would be: A Kind of Blue, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto ( a new recording by Mutter,Yo Yo Ma and Barenboim.A MQA recording that really grabbed me), Weather Report’s Bird Land ( Heavy Weather recording ), Bill Evans Peace Piece and anything by Blossom Dearie.
I would like to give you an update on my tone arm bounce because of my wooden floor. I gave up trying to isolate my LP12 t/table and decided to try to isolate the complete Hi Fi rack.The setup I finally ended up with is : 8 of your washing machine dampers in 4 pairs ( large diameter to large diameter) on the carpet, on top of which is a 400x600x25 mm MDF board. On top of the board are 8 Sorbathane hemispheres ( more of these later) on which sits the bottom shelf of the rack. Then on the top shelf 4 sorbathane hemispheres under the t/table and it works.
Regarding the sorbathane, i was using items I purchased from Amazon or EBAY which didn’t work ( to stiff ). I found a company on line called QTA System’s who supply loud speaker parts and sorbathane
There website explains about the required amount of compression needed to work correctly and has tables of sizes and hardness for the weight of the unit to be supported.
The company was very helpful with suggestions for my problem
Hope this may be of help to some of your viewers.
Regards
Richard Herbert
Hi Richard, thank you for your track selections and the update. Looks like you have been on quite a journey to get the vibrations under control. I know you have probably done this but have you checked the tone arm tracking weight. Normally should be between 2 or 3 grams.
A British Audiophile hi Tarun,I have had the tracking weight up and down and finally set the weight the Linn dealer had it set when I had the LP12 serviced. He also fitted a new cartridge.
Regards
Richard
Whenever i am in doubts or want a quick insight to one system i play Mancinis Pink Panther Theme.
Great bass crossed with trumpets, flute, sax, percusions...you name it...
If it is presented correctly you know you did something right while setting things up.
My system is modest with Audio Analogue Crescendo int. amp, Marantz 63 mkII K.I. signature cd player and Jamo 7.5 floorstanders (Usher's x-719 compass are being awaited at father's house until kids are prone from damaging silk tweeters 😁 )
That is a nice system Luka. Great suggestion for a demo track. An absolute classic. Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍
Hi Tarun, Great video. Here are some of my favorites from my Roon Equipment Test playlist 1. Gentle Rain by Houston Person and Ron Carter. - Perfect track for stereo separation, soundstage midrange and especially bass. A duet with Person on one side playing sax and Ron Carter playing double bass on the other side. The ultimate bass test! 2. Allan Taylor playing Tennessee Waltz on Behind the Mix - Very well recorded test of male vocals and guitar. 3. Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen w/Jennifer Warnes from The Essential Leonard Cohen - Very well recorded and great male and female vocal test, though Warnes sings backup. 4. I don’t have a good female lead vocal track selected yet. But I think a lot of tracks of Norah Jones or Diana Krall with only Piano would be great. 5. You definitely need a piano track and for me Keith Jarrett is IT. I use One for Majid a lot. But you can pick almost any of his piano trio or solo paino tracks. Bonuses: Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life midrange test with Pat’s guitar. Jaco on bass and the transients high notes of Bob Moses cymbals. Also for soundstage and male vocal I like (it’s just me) Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman.
Thank you for your suggestions and great analysis Richard. You mentioned a couple of tracks that I am not familiar with. I will have to check them out 😊👍
Excellent. Thanks for this. Give Bob Florence Edition’s “Now Playing” a try someday. I like the way the music builds and then tapers off to the intro tempo.
Thank you. Will do 👍
Just listening to it now. Sounds great. Thank you for the suggestion 😊
Great choices, One of mine would have been Diana Krall beautiful voice and always well recorded👌
Totally agree. I needed someone with a higher pitch to test those frequencies. That is why I went with Streisand & Dion. Thank you for watching 😊👍
Carey Bell; noted. Thanks for that. Added to Tidal faves. Your descriptions of these selections are very well done. Keep them coming.
Thank you Greg 😊👍
You have better taste in music than many reviewers 😎🎶
Thank you buddy 😊👍
Thanks Tarun, tried the Miles Davis tack, great sound, thanks again, keep up the good work. 👍
@@anthony2010707 thank you 😊
1)Beat Hotel-Allan T aylor( Strong, unique midrange instrument with great male (ish)vocal quality presentation
2)Hell Hounds of Krim-King Crimson( Base and mid range)
3)Way down deep-Jennifer Warnes(Very soulful female vocal with deep drum kicks garnished with gentle mid and high frequency instruments)
4)Just like Love-Steve straus( Touching male vocals with fascinating mid range instrumentation)
5)Bird's Teardrop-Estas Tonne.Peia(Magical guitar play with angle like female vocals)
Thank you 😊
You have a great year to look forward to SIR . Killer quality in production terms
Thank you TR. Much appreciated. Happy new year to you 😊👍
My Picks would be:
1. Robert miles - Children (Dream version)
2. Dave Brubeck - Take Five
3. Eva Cassidy - Imagine.
4. Pink Floyd - High Hopes
5. Michael Jackson - Thriller
Think this would be a pretty good for system testing ...
Agreed. Thank you Meeraj 😊
Thank you ! It's Flamenco Sketches and with you on RATM !
@@Belfran thx 😊
Hi Tarun, I always play Bluebird from Wing's Band on the Run album as my first choice.
Thank you Steven 👍
I needed six..... Massive Attack - Karmacoma (for tuneful, deep bass); Brian Eno - Kurt's Rejoinder (for speed & dynamics); Leftfield - El Cid (for bass extension and resonance); Joni Mitchell - A Case Of You (for female vocals/acoustic instruments); Pink Floyd - Dogs (for imaging & soundstage); Brian Eno - Energy Fools The Magician (for subtlety & detail)
@@peterbraham8657 thx 😊
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac is a favourite test track of mine. the bass line clarity, listening out for the different areas where the high hat is getting hit. Great vocal range as well.
Great album. I have a high res copy that sounds great 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 is that an SACD ?
@@brothergrubenski2603 nope, part of a high res library I inherited 😊
Mine as well..!!!
I cant listen to this song and not start pelivis thrusting
Always looking for artists I don't have. Thank you very much 👍
Thank you for watching 👍
Great suggestions. I especially love the blues album. A great sounding album I never get tired of is Convergence with Malia & Boris Blank. It's worth trying out.
Thank you. I will check it out 😊
Hey Tarun ! Love the details about each performer & Instruments 👌
Thank you Anand 😊👍
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, You'd be so Nice to Come Home To. Also recorded in 1959 . It's my go to and sounds especially good on Magnepan speakers
One of my favourites. Thank you Robert 😊
Thank you for watching and commenting Baba Ganush 😊
Tarun, I'm as, if not more intrigued by the lists in the comment section - as your excellent selection. What a great audiophile fest playlist.
Thank you Sanjay. I am very proud of the community that build around this channel 😊👍
I use the following tracks to evaluate headphones, but they apply to 2 channel audio systems in general.
Vicky’s 5 Tracks for Evaluating Headphones 🎧:
-------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
1. The New Appalachians - Wayfaring Stranger (2015)
🎤 Mid-range and sibilance test. This is a Chesky binaural recording. Noah Wall's bittersweet voice should come across clear and bright, but not sibilant.
2. Infected Mushroom - Spitfire (2017)
🥁 Bass impact and definition test. The synth bass is fast, detailed, and hard hitting. Each segment should stay in its own sound space. If the system can produce sub-bass, this track will let you know.
3. Radiohead - Nude (2007)
🎹 Soundstage and imaging test. The overall presentation should remain warm and laid back throughout the song. Only Thom Yorke's vocals, high hats, and certain elements appear forward.
4. Luiz Bonfá - Inquietação (1962)
🎻 Details and resolution test. This bossa nova classic has been remastered and reissued too many times. I prefer the hi-res download of the original "O Violão e o Samba" recording.
5. Therion - Enter Vril-Ya (2000)
🎸 Compressed and real-world music test. Unless you listen exclusively to well-recorded music, you should probably know how badly the system sounds with a typical "loudness war" recording that you love.
Thanks for sharing, Vicky.
I agree with you on the last one! Whatever you demo, make sure that you like how it sounds with music that you typically listen to. 95% of my music library is punk-rock, metal, and grunge. lol
Dear Tarun, thanks for your wonderful reviews. Good suggestions to listen during the weekend on my new Hegel 120 and Focal speakers.
Thank you Pierangelo. Great to hear from you. Glad the new amp is working well with the Focal’s 😊👍
Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue "What a shame" Available in Audiophile Vinyl. Whole album is superb and very well recorded.
I have that album in high res. Thank you for sharing 😊👍
Also the "The Thrill is Gone" is a great track for vocals.
Thanks, Tarun! I love the details you provide on each of the tracks. One thing I noticed on Flamenco Sketches is that Jimmy Cobb is not only delicately playing the cymbals but you should be able to hear him softly scraping a brush with his other hand the whole time! Amazing detail on this track and beautifully recorded!
Thank you 👍
My top 5 tracks:
Peder af Ugglas Blue Departure
Charly Antolini That´s me
Röyksopp The Alcoholic
The kinks Deaf of a clown
Roger Water The ballad of Bill Hubbard
Maria Mena I was made for loving you
I´m lucky to have my own listening room with room acoustic treatment, I´ve had many high end speakers such as the Infinity IRS Beta, Wilson and many others, I was never a 100% happy with the sound of so called high end speakers and ended up with an old pair of Tannoy FSM and a pair of REL subs. It feels like i´m in the studio engineers recording seat on every track i play, imaging, 3D, vocals, everything sounds so natural and real.
Sound like you have a great setup William. Thank you for watching and your suggestions 😉👍
Where do you put your accoustic diffuser panels?
Any good rule of thumb for placement of these panels?
Tx..
Thanks for including the albums the songs are on. Very helpful.
Very nice presentation, thought provoking information. I would like to provoke the thought that a cut that one knows but in a version one is unfamiliar with, can be instructional for listening. So for instance my copy of Kind of Blue has, "Flamenco Sketches, alternative cut." What this offers, within a familiar context, is surprise. Surprise readjusts the mind, heightens awareness, I feel. Thanks for the provocation!
Thank you John. Totally agree. I have heard the alt cut too 😊👍
Wow. Nice recommendations. Every single song is extremely well recorded!
Thank you Shoaib 😊👍
Thanks for the videos, they are very helpful. I have a few of the albums on your list. I have been getting into the hi-fi for the past 10 years, and am always impressed with how my music sounds on my new gear. I have some regular albums and tracks I use when I am testing new gear. Herbie Hancock - Dis is Da Drum is a good album. Curtis Mayfield "Superfly." Led Zeppelin "No Quarter," and Kool and the Gang "Summer Madness," are on rotation.
Thank you for sharing 😊
My go to is Ryan Adams Ashes & Fire - have setup the system so it sounds like he is in the room just in front of me with drummer a metre or two behind him, can almost walk around the stage and the bass notes kick in your chest. Great slow acoustic album
"...including exquisite coloring from Heartbreaker keyboardist Benmont Tench" - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Live at Carnegie Hall is brilliant too . Well worth a listen
Hi Tarun, just wanted to say that on your recommendation I have just listened to Harpslinger by Carey Bell….omg sounds so amazing, quite rare to find a recording that sounds this good. Thank you and more of the same please, good work!
Most welcome 👍
I'm sat here with Zack de la Rocha and he wants to let you know that he and the rest of the Rage against the Machine boys are thrilled to have made the grade. Tom Morello lead guitarist couldn't believe that he was on a list that contained 2 of his heroes Miles Davis and Celine Dion.
Wow Dan, that is amazing!!! It is me that needs to thank them for countless hours of listening pleasure. I am so delighted that they got to watch my video. Thank you for letting me know. 😊😊😊👍👍👍
awesome!
@@abritishaudiophile7314 This channels flying, bravo, you deserve it!
@@petethegreekre thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍👍
Got em"
Excellent choices for demo and reviewing discs. Coltrane is playing tenor sax. Cobb is 'caressing' his ride cymbal, not the hi-hat. Picky I know.
Thank you Tom. I appreciate the heads up 👍
Enoying the Comments and Suggestions so I'll add some of my own:
Led Zepplin - No Quarter (Remaster)
Jennifer Warnes - The Hunter
Espers - Riding
Bill Withers - Lovely Day
The Aristocrats - Bad Asteroid
Eva Cassidy - Ain't No Sunshine
Nils Lofgren - Keith Don't Go
Great suggestions. Thank you DVS 😊👍
Thank you Kris 😊
Yes, Jennifer Warnes, The Hunter. The strings, her voice, pure heaven.
Hi Roger, I almost went with “Lights of Louisianne” from that album and last minute swapped it for Celine & Barbara as it is a bit easier to judge the vocals on that track.
Really enjoyed your music history summation of your favorites. I’m always looking for great music! Ty
Outstanding presentation again. Very useful indeed, as always.
Best regards and enjoy your weekend!
Thank you Hrvoje. You too, I hope the sun is shining 😊👍
A remarkably insightful and useful video!
Thank you MB. Much appreciated 😊👍
I really enjoy your videos as they are both informative and delivered in a positive, inviting way, thank you. You asked what some of us listen to so I’ll respond briefly; Dominique Fils-Aime Stay Tuned! Album is excellent as is Mark Knopfler’s Tracker. For something more energetic and demanding my latest go-to is Tool’s Fear Fear Inoculum. Thanks again and I am going to sit down and give Carey Bell a listen.
Thank you for watching and sharing your suggestions Trevor 😊👍
4 out of 5 yes. Yes. Yes. But Streisand and Celine? Really. You can listen to that more than once? Man, you are tough. That is taking your dedication to our hobby beyond most limits. Thanks for this.
Good one 😂 It is not my favourite female performance but a good one to test a system 😊👍
Great lists of suggestions for me to sample for days: Hopefully without repeating the popular ones already suggested, here’s my list:
Test: male voice & acoustic guitar
Song: St. James Infirmery
Artist: Hans Theessink
Label: Blue Groove
Listen for: sharp attack of guitar strings and decay, full male voice
Test: soundstage
Song: Agnus Dei by Barber
Artist: Voce8
Label: Decca
Listen for: height and depth of soundstage, natural purity of perfect voices
Test: Mid bass
Song: Basic Drummer Free Improvisation
Artist: Jim Keltner
Label: Sheffield
Listen for: neutral mid bass, treble
Test: treble
Song: Poison & Wine
Album: Barton Hollow
Artist: The Civil Wars
Label: Columbia-Sony
Listen for: any sibilance and/or congestion of male-female high voices, guitar and cymbals
Test: sub bass
Song: The Bells of St Anne de Beaupre
Album: The Power and the Glory, Vol. 1
Artist: Alexander Russell (composer), Lloyd Holzgraf (organist)
Label: M & K Realtime Records
List for: discernible sub bass notes, deep soundstage, blackness, dynamic range
Excellent suggestions. Thank you buddy 😊👍
Tarun, thank you for your informative videos.
I still have a yellow vinyl stereo test LP that my parents purchased in the early 60s (late 50s?). Always a nostalgic joy to listen!
My top demo track for female vocals is listening to Clare Torry on Pink Floyd's Great Gig in the Sky. I remember listening to the Dark Side of the Moon album with my dad shortly after purchasing a pair of Infinity 4000 speakers that, to my ear, had exceptional accuracy and realism. This was late 70s/early 80s. As soon as I heard her sing, I was hooked. She was in the room with us! Years later, in my comically brief tenure as a sales consultant for United Audio (later Tweeter), that was my #1 song when a customer asked me to recommend a demo track.
(By the way, your speaker placement video confirmed that the speaker placement in our store's audiophile listening room was pathetically poor. No wonder I was never blown away with the sound in that room...)
Thank you. Great to hear about your experiences 👍
Back in the mid-80s The Blue Nile, It's Immaterial and Talk Talk were gear demo favourites. On a side note, Talk Talk's "The Colour Of Spring" album was the reason I bought my first CD player - every copy of the initial vinyl run had the same pressing flaw on Side 2.
Thank you for your suggestion buddy. How you doing? Great to hear from you 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I'm good, thanks! Currently enjoying a very early CD player (Ferguson CD02 - behind the fascia it's a Sony CDP-102). Sony hadn't developed a digital filter chip at the time, so it features an analogue filter - the high frequencies are sweet!
Thank you Toxteth O'Grady 😊
I am hoping to get my hands on NOS R2R DAC soon thisisnev. Can’t say too much as yet...
Thanks man, this is fantastic information to help a beginner like me. Love from DownUnder
Thank you for watching and the kind words of support Padma. Much appreciated 👍😊👍
Great video :) Respectfully I'd suggest trying to get a less 'roomy' sound on your voice - maybe a lav mic. i think it would greatly improve the feel of your videos and would be appreciated by audiophiles :)
Thanks 😊Guy. I am on to it
Nice channel. No B.S.. BUT I am amazed at how reflective your room sounds. I presume the mic that you are using is a condenser, try a cheaper dynamic or lav as already suggested.
Great promotion of the idea of not only auditioning system components with several carefully chosen and familiar pieces of music, but limiting that selection to just four or five. With those, one can either audition an entire system elsewhere, keeping in mind the entire system includes the listening environment as an important component, or audition individual components in A-B fashion on the system and in the room one is most familiar with at home. I am inclined towards more modern jazz selections, but I'll check these out for audition purposes, thanks for another great video.
Thank you for watching SB 😊👍
holy smokes is that the room you listen to music ? Its so live and reflective. Any more and it would be like a bathroom :(
Palace - Holy smoke
Btw a great song
Great effect to get the viewers attention. Well done! I suggest adding, The Missing Piece - Peder Af Ugglas - Blue Departure. A great track for soundstage. Listen and place the different instruments in space.
2. Baba O’Riley - The Who. Listen as each instrument comes in and is added to the mix. Hard rock at its best.
3. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley. From the 1st breath and sigh to the end it’s the best test of the male voice. Unreal.
4. Telegraph Road - Dire Straits. You can choose almost any Straits or Mark Knopfler track but this is a workout.
5. This is the Picture (excellent birds) - Peter Gabriel. Dynamics, bass, drums, male and female vocals all in one.
@@BobbyBass-x6i thx for sharing 😊
Fiona Apple - Ladies
Zero 7 - Morning Song
Bob Marley - Jamming
Another Sky - Riverbed
John Williams in Vienna - Adventures on earth
Thank you Jan
What a beautiful layout and set up mate. An honor to hear.
Thank you Mike. Very much appreciated 😊👍
Since the late 80’s, I’ve used the Dire Straits Brothers in Arms CD. I’ve had to purchase many copies through the years.
It will easily show any flaws in your system.
Today, having it on your phone is a must. You might go to an audio store to listen to audio equipment and may be in a building that shields cell phone signal.
One of my favourite albums of all time 😊
Roxy Music - Avalon (Song) HDCD. Simply brilliant sound.
Thank you 👍
Wow this comment section is filled with great recommendations! Thanks for sharing everyone, I can't wait to give them all a good listen :)
Let me try to contribute with 5 tracks that I think would be fantastic for various demo purposes:
1. Hans Zimmer - Stillsuits
2. Corpo-Mente - Fia
3. Opeth - The Leper Affinity
4. Infected Mushroom - Stretched
5. Snowy White - Bird of Paradise
I have to confess I'm still young, ignorant and poor, so I haven't actually had the opportunity to listen to these tracks on a good sound system.
I'm planning on getting one soon, so I'm looking into it (thanks for the help Tarun!), and I'm very much looking forward to listening to all these great tracks.
Thank you HM. Great suggestions. Good luck on your HiFi journey 😊👍
Nice. I think you should go your own way. Most audiophiles seem to stick to what old people told them was supposed to be good. Albums from over 50 yrs ago that quite honestly dont sound as good as they try so hard to make them out to be. Maybe try Dream Theater's album Awake for an alterative to Opeth, which didnt sound particularly amazing.
@@typedeaf I agree! And thanks for the tip man, will definitely try it out.
Love that you included Carey Bell👍🏼😎
Thank you 😊👍
Good stuff, especially the Miles. I would add, presumptuously, some *solo piano.* Solo piano -- solo because the recording engineer has full options as to the room, the piano, and listening position. Piano because this instrument has an incredibly wide dynamic range. It has the softest pianissimo sounds and huge fortissimo chords. The piano has giant transients caused by the striking impacts of the strings followed by the resonance of the sound board. 50 dB ranges aren't uncommon. Also, a good piano recording will show off or show up a system that can't handle the huge transient spikes with clarity while still showing a clear, sweet character of its quietest and simplest passages.
Add to that the piano's widest range of *fundamental* frequencies, from 32 Hz to 4186 Hz. Just the 2nd harmonic of C-8 is 8372 Hz, and the 3rd harmonic is over 12 kHz. And on, harmonics above that. With a dynamic range of 50 dB and a tonal range from 32 Hz to beyond human hearing, it's no wonder that recording 'engineers' obsess over truth in capturing piano sound.
I personally like the recent recordings of pianists of the Jussen Brothers (esp. Beethoven), and those of Lang Lang (esp. Piano Book, the Schubert). Both are done by DG, who unarguably know what they are doing with these. Both artists demand the utmost from the recordists.
Just one man's view. [Now, I'm back to listening to Miles, streamed from the master tapes at 24/192k]
Keith Jarrett 😏
@@paznewis107 Agreed.
Thank you Jim. Totally agree. I almost opted for Mari Kodami, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14. But it is hard to pick just 5 tracks 😊
Hi Paz, I love Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden, Last Dance album 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Koln concert has captivated me for almost 40 years.
Awesome Tarun. I will have to listen your tracks and see if my humble system live up to my expectation. Great timing.
Thank you Tiken. Great to hear from you buddy 😉👍
Those speakers looks like Triangle Signature Theta. Looks awesome. Would love to know more hear from you how it sounds also.
They are the Trios Tiken. Review pending 😊
I have particular songs I test stereos to -Honeydrippers " I get a thrill". Doobie Bros " you're made that way", Al Dimeola "Elegant Gypsy Suite", Boz Scaggs " harbor lights", sting " fortress around your heart", Joe Jackson " stepping out" , Robert Cray " right next door because of me", Sade - " Maureen", Chicago " hanky panky / lifesaver", steely Dan " black cow", Bruce Springsteen " tenth Avenue Freezeout"
Thank you for sharing 😊
My list is a pretty short one. For testing speakers and headphones: a) Private Investigations by Dire Straits, on Love Over Gold; b) Give It Up To Love by Mighty Sam McClain, on Give It Up To Love. For testing headphones: c) Midnight Rambler live by The Rolling Stones on Get Yer Ya-Yas Out.
Private Investigations has one of the finest tests of imaging and soundstage with a variety of instruments and sounds in the background that moved during the course of this song that will really tell if you’re speakers are capable of imaging or not. Later in the song, there are a set of footsteps that move across the soundstage and you should be able to to follow them from beyond one speaker to beyond the other. There is another effect that on a poor quality system sounds like any sort of glass object like a bottle clanking in the background, but on better quality systems, it can be identified as a wine glass breaking. There is a heartbeat sound that sounds like a dull “thud, thud” on lesser equipment, but comes across as a sharp “tunk, tunk“ on a better speaker. The keyboards sound a bit digital and metallic on a cheaper, lesser quality system, but sound a bit richer, more like a piano on a better system.
Sam McClain’s vocals on Give It Up To Love sound thin and gravelly on poor quality speakers. On good quality speakers they open up, and you will discover that he is probably the finest male blues singer of all time, with a rich, highly emotive voice. There’s also a crescendo that builds on this track that is uplifting with the majesty of a tall mountain peak, heard through good equipment, but is the sonic equivalent of a small foothill on lesser equipment. The album was also recorded by Audioquest and it is of exceptionally high recording quality.
Live albums from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s that do not feature the Allman Brothers at the Filmore East venue tend to be rather far from what one would use for an audio test track, but there are significant sonic features on Midnight Rambler from the Get Yer Ya-Yas Out album highlight the difference between better and lesser headphones. On cheaper headphones, the song starts with a dull rumble, but on better headphones, you can hear each string Bill Wyman plucks on his bass distinctly and powerfully. At about the 2/3 mark as the song has really slowed down, Mick Taylor‘s solo develops more savagely yet more musically than virtually any heavy metal solo, if played on a good set of headphones. On lesser headphones it’s not as notable.
Great 👍 thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
Finally someone who suggests some real music for listening tests 👍
Thank you Sven 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 you are very welcome. I really dislike what a lot of HiFi dealerships do with these specially-produced, effect-ridden "High End" music productions. This is borderlining on marketing strategies worthy of Bose.
Personally, I really like Phil Upchurch's "Whatever Happened To The Blues" album for listening tests. It has some really deep electric bass lines, great drums and a beautiful jazz-blues guitar played by Upchurch himself.
I will have to check that one out Sven 😊
Thanks again Tarun
My reference demo tracks are celine dion immortality, the power of love , think twice and peabo Bryson can you stop you the rain.
These songs have unique artistic characteristics no other songs have, especially the introduction of Immortality and can you stop the rain. And i feel no any system is capable enough to reveal their majestic and sublime virtues.
Kind regards and best wishes
Thanks Mohammed 🙂
'Kind of Blue' has so many great tracks and such sublime musicianship. Bill Evans in particular just pushes the beat forward with minimal effort. And every solo by all the players is just perfect with no one "shouting look at me".
Imho, in the pre-digital days recording engineers were more careful with microphone placement and with the capture of the signal on the master tape. There was noway to "fix" a bad recording.
Thank you Brown-eyed-man. Love you insights 😊👍
Yes! What a collaboration. Never a competition, as sometimes happens (Hey, not bad, Dude, but watch this!). So relaxed, each contribution. So seemingly effortless. Especially Bill Evans, who often just adds the glue to hold it together. Flamenco Sketches is evocative, but so subtly so.
I’m totally agree Jim. Eloquently said 😉
@@jimshaw899 Every player, during every solo makes you ask to hear the next note. And it's always the right one! Nothing to be added and nothing extra.
For me Beethoven symphonies are just like that too. Where is the score going next, then aha, of course.
Our test tracks are pretty similar. My video is about a year old no key changes other than I think I would add sure thing - st germain for wavy bass line against some isolated slides on the strings. Anyways im off to spin Bitches Brew still my fave MD album. Keep it Posh & Proper
Pip pip cheerio
Thank you Jose 😊
Fab, thank you, will listen to all of these shortly
Thank you Stiff Ted 😊👍
Hi sir we’ll done as always . Your approach is always well thought out and considered . But ultimately backed up with a considerable knowledge of your subject. You are my go to source , along with Paul rigbey for unbiased informative information . Best wishes and kind regards from Mike in the U.K. 👍
Thank you Mike. So glad you enjoyed the video. Your support doesn’t go unnoticed and it very much appreciated 😊👍👍
I put a spell on you - Larry Carton / Robben Ford (Album:Unplugged) Really well recorded
Thaknow you Rob 😊
Hi Tarun
I no longer have a list of tracks to use for demos ( I'm old) but I do
remember back in the late 70s being "trapped "in a hotel room at a
hi-fi exhibition with Ivor Tiefenbrun of Linn (sorry I have no idea how
to spell that) and a group of hi-fi journalists, he was demonstrating
an LP12 comparing it to another turntable. He was using Dire Straits
Sultans of Swing and the main talking point was can you hear the rhythm
guitar equally on both turntables, I did manage to escape but did use
that track ,amongst others, to demo equipment for a long time afterwards.
Thanks for that Tarun your list took me back a few years.
Thank you Ray. That is a great anecdote about a legend of the hifi industry. He certainly convinced a lot of people to spend more money on sources 😉👍
👍👍👍👍👍
Wow great reference tracks! Miles Davis and RATM are on my list as well. I would like to mention ~four others I often use for reference: Michael Jackson - Human Nature or Thriller (anything recorded by the late great Bruce Swedien), Beck - Morning, Pharrel - Gust Of Wind, Bob Marley - Natural Mystic. And recently i added Lost Lenore by Charlotte Gainsborough. Hope this might inspire new listening experience for others :-)
Great suggestions, thank you for sharing 😊👍
Gainsbourg !!! she is french :)
Great! Thanks allot. Will try them all. I have used ECM recordings in the past. One is particularly good, and not only for testing: KHMER, Nils Petter Molvaer. From my experience, if the system sounds good playing that one , it will sound great with anything else.
@@braatislav thank you for watching 👍
I'm on carey Bell, Harpslinger, 👌 Never heard this guy before.
The DB1'S are extremely good btw 😁
Thank you Stuart. They are probably still running in 😊👍
Huge fan of your channel! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion for good sound!
Much appreciated PD 😊👍
Wonderful channel you have here, Tarun. One of my fetish tracks is "Teo" on the Miles Davis album "Someday my Prince will Come". On a different note, I'd be interested on your reviewing the new trend in Class-D amp designs by Bruno Putzeys (N-Core and Purifi). I reckon that KEF also deserves some attention (especially since they introduced their Reference, R series and the new Meta designs). There is also something to be said for studio monitors like Genelec's that have lots if interesting calibration features. In amp design, there's also the trend of THX AAA circuit topology, as exemplified by the Benchmark amp, which measures beyond anything else in the market. Lastly, there's a new trend of Chinese designed and build DACs, that offer top-tier value for money in resolution and distortion performance.
Thank you Phil. I am talking to manufacturer and almost all have responded positively. Most are struggling to fulfill orders at the moment due to strong demand (people spend more time at home i guess) and problems with their supply chain. The availability of demo gear to review is thin on the ground. Would love to get an affordable N-core amp in for review. Then compare it to one of Bruno’s latest designs at Purifi. Watch this space 😉👍
Such a useful informative episode! Thanks Tarun :)
I'm not sure how useful for solid state owners this is other than people who can just go out and buy new kit if their present isn't coming up to scratch on some of the tracks! But its really useful for me with a hybrid amp. I can roll the tubes and see what changes thats makes on the tracks Tarun mentioned, nice! ;)
Thank you. I very much appreciate you watching. I bet the tube rolling will be fun 😊👍
Dire Straits-Communique is fantastic Analogue sounding vinyl. Eva Cassidy for female vocals. Just to name a few.
Totally agree. Thank you Billza Music man 😊
Wow this is cool. My fav audiophile demo was Larry carlton’s “on solid ground” album demo-in 1989 on a state of the art NaD receiver, followed by Fagen’s Nightfly and Sting’s Nothing Like the Sun…
Thx for sharing 😊
Thanks for another great episode! I will be auditioning some Proacs on the weekend (D2, D2R and DT8).
Got inspired by this video and put together a list of tracks to try out:
- Song For My Father - Horace Silver
- Number One - Manu Katche
- Keith Don’t Go - Nils Lofgren
- Pearls - Kandace Springs & Avishai Cohen
- Hungry Ghost - Mehldau & Guiliana
- Vivaldi, the Four Seasons, Concerto in Gm, RV 315 “Summer - Avi Avital & Venice Baroque Orchestra
- Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Great tracks Halil. I hope the audition goes well. Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😊👍
Bir türk ile karşılaşmayı hiç beklememiştim :) selam
Great playlist. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching Marc 😊👍