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!
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)
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
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.
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.
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)
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
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.
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
@@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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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)
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 😁 )
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. 😊😊😊👍👍👍
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
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.
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!
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
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 ...
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 😊👍
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.
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.
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.
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! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
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.
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!
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.
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.
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"
So Demo tracks change over time, this is my current standing top 5 - 1. You want it Darker - Leonard Cohen (there’s some voodoo on this track that a PSB Imagine B conveyed to me, replayed with Emit 20 immediately and it wasn’t there, couldn’t find it over decent Sennheisers too, so good test track…) 2. Hunger - Hendrix Ackle (Excellent frequency range - sweet piano notes, smooth rich baritone vocals, wonderfully rhythmic, pacy base guitar sections and deep solid percussion with superb reverb and decay) 3. Benedictus - Simon and Garfunkel (Aah ! the Stereo imaging) 4. Like a Dog Chasing Cars - Hans Zimmer (Unfair on most bookshelf speakers, but yeah how close can you get??) 5a. Ave Maria - Beyonce (how delicate can that vibrato be at the very top-end?) 5b. Kalvare - A.R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal (Pure unadulterated Rahman magic, please bring out those Beryllium tweeters and musical subs, probably has the best Sound Engineers working with him) ...cheated a bit, please excuse :-)
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
I have the RATM album on digital. I don't remember what the frequency response it was recorded is, but my WiFi speakers are supposedly capable of decoding 24/192 audio files. I had no clue that album was such a high quality recording.
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.
Hey Tarun doing a bit of back catalogue cruising and came across this one. I'd be keen to hear your thoughts about my five. 1. anything from "We Get Requests" by "Oscar Peterson" particularly "The Girl From Ipanema" swings along beautifully everybody should be well placed across the soundstage double bass in the right channel Oscar in the centre and the drums in the left channel. 2. "Down the way by Angus and Julia Stone" particularly "Yellow Brick Road" just the lovely recording your system should be able to flesh out all the detail around everybody playing in this one. 3. One of my go-to female tracks is from "Diana Reeves" off the album "Never Too Far" the track of mention here is the last on the album called "Company". Her voice should be coming from directly in front of you straight out of the middle. On my system I can almost see her face when I close my eyes in three dimensions, as she is singing to me it really is uncanny. A lovely recording for this era. 4. My nostalgic classic from the past as an 80s child as I'm sure you are as well my friend would be off Qubuz in high res. "The Commodores" singing "Night Shift" this track is just musical Heaven with lots of percussion hits flying all over the soundstage. If you don't find yourself tapping your foot to this one you're clearly dead. 5. This one's great for fleshing out just how good your soundstage is both side to side forward and back. The Trumpet in this one should sound very present without being overbearing. You should be hearing all kinds of stuff in the room behind the front wall and behind your ears and far outside of where the speakers are positioned. The album is "Red and Blue" by "Muriel Zoe " and the track here is "Bye Bye Blackbird".🎧😁👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 excellent my friend hope you enjoy I certainly like those tracks amongst many others. I tend not to be a sheep and follow the standard offerings, much prefer finding something a little different.
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.
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
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.
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!
'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.
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]
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.
I couldn't agree more with your first choice of Flamenco Sketches from Miles Davis' album Kind of Blue. Coincidentally, I just acquired a hybrid SACD of the classic, and already fantastically recorded album and have been listening the heck out of it. If you want a wonderfully recorded and especially great blues number from a FEMALE blues singer, try Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa's album, Don't Explain. Especially the track, I'll Take Care of You. This on a great system will knock you for a loop!!
@@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.
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👍🙂🇬🇧
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 :-)
Hi Tarun great selection of demo music. I was hoping to find a techno song that you described in one of your YT vids. I remember you describing as if the sound came in waves from the right side of the room, great techno song heavy bass. I really loved that techno beat sounded just as you described it. Thanks. PS: Maybe create a video of techno electronic demo's perhaps.
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
Tarun, I just stumbled across this nearly 3 years after its debut. Not sure how I missed it as I have been following your channel since its inception. All I can say is I hope you have updated this. My only take was Barbie and Dion. Now what do I suggest you say? Oscar Robertson, We get requests, you look good to me. Chesky Jazz audiophile #2 track 46. Goliath Woodkid. Que Sera Sera, Hidden Citizens. Dracula (Nate sees Cassie) Labrinth. You owe me some good ones now!
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.
My tracks for testing system: Allan Taylor - The Beat Hotel Chris Jones & Steve Baker - Long After Your're Gone Heilung - Alfadhirhaiti Ursine Vulpine feat. Annaca - Wicked Game Ariane Moffat - SOS d`un Terrien en Detresse Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence
Great selection - that Miles Davis album is awesome 👍 Check out Tom’s Diner: Suzanne Vega for pinpoint centre stereo image and Bird On A Wire: Jennifer Warnes for one of the best produced recordings ever.
I always appreciate your comments and recommendations . Three albums which I have found extremely revealing of a system for realistic and to me “religious experience “ elements with nuance, stop what you’re doing and just listen, are: Jazz Poll Winners/Columbia CS 814. Track Selection is Don Elliot& Kenny Burrell. “Poll Tax.” Greg Allman Band I’m No Angel/CBS. Track Selection is “It’s Not My CrossTo Bear.” Marvin Jenkins, Big City Polomar G24001 (mono). Track Selection is “I’m Always Drunk In San Francisco.” For a number of reasons these albums always make me remember when I feel in love with audio. My fist record was “Sarah Vaughan In HI FI. My second was “Kind Of Blue.” You never forget your first exciting and memorable experiencing records. By the way, all of selections are and were LPs.
I'd forgotten about her. Good low-key voice. Sings like an adult. Unlike many female adult-contemporary/folk artists these days who specialize in sounding like little girls.
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’ll try to check these out. I use the tidal ultimate system testers playlist a lot. A couple other tests I use are songs by Billie Eilish and from Peter Gabriel’s So (e.g Don’t Give Up with Kate Bush).
Check out Peter Manos, In My Head. It has a lot of things that makes you listen. Attack decay bass, close clean vocals etc. The mastering has some complexity to it with left right ticks and sweeps. The high hat sounds really nice. The master track is available on Tidal.
Hi Tarun Firstly, great video and video choice, really enjoyed it ... But.. I’m left really needing to know your ‘Real’ female vocal first choice?? Ps. The thing I like most about Tell Him is the effort two great artist put in to make this sound as good as it could be 😊 Keep up the good work and thanks as always.
Hi Kevin, thank you, much appreciated. I just spent 20 minutes pondering of a response to your question and I can’t come up with an answer. When I am in different moods, I listen to different genres. At the moment I am in a soulful mood. Just listened to... Aretha Franklin, Today I Sing The Blues Nina Simone, Backlash Blues Gladys Knight, Where Peaceful Waters Flow Now how can you choose between those 3 tracks and that is just one genre. Thank you for the excellent question. Sorry, I can’t come up with an adequate response 😊👍👍
Hi Kris, it makes getting speaker positioning right a little more tricky but doesn’t act as a Hermholz resonator as it has quite a lot of stuff in it. The log burner, logs, card and paper (used as kindling) accessories, candle holders break up standing waves pretty well and provides a bit of diffusion in a non linear manner.
Thanks Tarun, not to change the subject here but when you talk about speed and transients I think class D mated to a tube preamp. My tube of choice is the 6922 and I'm using the reissued Gold Lion right now which I personally like. I've built a couple of D's so far using the ICE modules which are very good but I haven't heard the newer GaN amps yet. Did you review the Purifi? If so I guess I missed it. I think the key to evaluation music is knowing the music you're using for the evaluation. Personally I like several of the Kiri Te Kanawa tracks on her Gershwin album "Kiri Sings Gershwin". It's a big brassy well recorded album and if your system has any sharpness or harshness in it you'll hear it pretty fast. The instruments are well defined on the album also. For simpler music like guitars I use Kottke's albums. They're a little heavy in the studio manipulation area but again, if you know the albums, you can get a lot of information about your system out of them. Another great album for evaluation is the Cristina Pluhar " Los Pajaros Perdides" with lots of pan flutes and well recorded vocals. For rock I like U2, "The Joshua Tree" is a good one for me. Just my pics. Orchestra classical seems to me the best for complex sound, I like the Telarc 9th with the Cleveland Orchestra.
![If you can't hear this then you're not an audiophile [See description for link to followup video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/48PxwspDvrE/mqdefault.jpg)
geez, no room treatment?
@@kewlbug old vid with mic problems 😉
holy smokes is that the room you listen to music ? Its so live and reflective. Any more and it would be like a bathroom :(
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?
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 .......
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 😊👍
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 👍
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 😊👍
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 🎶📃
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 😊
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 !
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.
I love your list! Thank you for the introduction to Carey Bell!
You are welcome Champster. Thank you for watching and commenting 😊👍
Very good. Boz Scaggs - Greatest hits live. Mahler Symphony No 2 Resurrection W Alan Gilbert.
Thank you 😊
Brilliant recommendation for the Carey Bell album. I'd missed that one. Thanks very much.
Thank you Gary 😊👍
I second that
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
Another great video,thanks.going to copy your playlist and test it out on my system tonight
Cool 😎 I hope you enjoy the tracks 😊
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
Was not expecting an RATM as your 5th track, love it!
Thx 😉
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.
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 😊👍
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 😊
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
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
Roxy Music - Avalon (Song) HDCD. Simply brilliant sound.
Thank you 👍
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.
If you can find it on vinyl.
Dead van dance. Live. Rakim. Simply stunning.
@@ristretti cool 😎
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 😊
Thanks Tarun, tried the Miles Davis tack, great sound, thanks again, keep up the good work. 👍
@@anthony2010707 thank you 😊
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 😊👍
Wow! Carey Bell is it. Great separation and clarity. Thanks for the suggestions.
Glad you liked it 😊
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"
Thank you Tarun, really appreciate this and introducing us to some great tracks and genres,
Thank you for watching and commenting 😊👍
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.
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 👍
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 😊👍
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 😊
Hi Tarun, I always play Bluebird from Wing's Band on the Run album as my first choice.
Thank you Steven 👍
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 😊👍
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...
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 😊👍
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
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 😊
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 😊👍
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 😊
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 😊👍
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 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 😊👍
You have better taste in music than many reviewers 😎🎶
Thank you buddy 😊👍
Brilliant list! Duke Ellington is absolutely mind blowing on my little cheap setup!
Thank you kindly 😊👍
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 😊👍
Really enjoyed your music history summation of your favorites. I’m always looking for great music! Ty
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.
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 👍
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 😊
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 😊
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 😊👍
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 😊
So Demo tracks change over time, this is my current standing top 5 -
1. You want it Darker - Leonard Cohen (there’s some voodoo on this track that a PSB Imagine B conveyed to me, replayed with Emit 20 immediately and it wasn’t there, couldn’t find it over decent Sennheisers too, so good test track…)
2. Hunger - Hendrix Ackle (Excellent frequency range - sweet piano notes, smooth rich baritone vocals, wonderfully rhythmic, pacy base guitar sections and deep solid percussion with superb reverb and decay)
3. Benedictus - Simon and Garfunkel (Aah ! the Stereo imaging)
4. Like a Dog Chasing Cars - Hans Zimmer (Unfair on most bookshelf speakers, but yeah how close can you get??)
5a. Ave Maria - Beyonce (how delicate can that vibrato be at the very top-end?)
5b. Kalvare - A.R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal (Pure unadulterated Rahman magic, please bring out those Beryllium tweeters and musical subs, probably has the best Sound Engineers working with him)
...cheated a bit, please excuse :-)
Mine change periodically too winstondhanraj. Thank you for watching and sharing your suggestions 😊
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 😊👍
I have the RATM album on digital. I don't remember what the frequency response it was recorded is, but my WiFi speakers are supposedly capable of decoding 24/192 audio files. I had no clue that album was such a high quality recording.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Heinzkitz 😊
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.
Hey Tarun doing a bit of back catalogue cruising and came across this one. I'd be keen to hear your thoughts about my five.
1. anything from "We Get Requests" by "Oscar Peterson" particularly "The Girl From Ipanema" swings along beautifully everybody should be well placed across the soundstage double bass in the right channel Oscar in the centre and the drums in the left channel.
2. "Down the way by Angus and Julia Stone" particularly "Yellow Brick Road" just the lovely recording your system should be able to flesh out all the detail around everybody playing in this one.
3. One of my go-to female tracks is from "Diana Reeves" off the album "Never Too Far" the track of mention here is the last on the album called "Company". Her voice should be coming from directly in front of you straight out of the middle. On my system I can almost see her face when I close my eyes in three dimensions, as she is singing to me it really is uncanny. A lovely recording for this era.
4. My nostalgic classic from the past as an 80s child as I'm sure you are as well my friend would be off Qubuz in high res. "The Commodores" singing "Night Shift" this track is just musical Heaven with lots of percussion hits flying all over the soundstage. If you don't find yourself tapping your foot to this one you're clearly dead.
5. This one's great for fleshing out just how good your soundstage is both side to side forward and back. The Trumpet in this one should sound very present without being overbearing. You should be hearing all kinds of stuff in the room behind the front wall and behind your ears and far outside of where the speakers are positioned. The album is "Red and Blue" by "Muriel Zoe " and the track here is "Bye Bye Blackbird".🎧😁👍
Thank you Shane. Great suggestions. Some I haven’t heard (at least for a while). I will be checking them out 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 excellent my friend hope you enjoy I certainly like those tracks amongst many others. I tend not to be a sheep and follow the standard offerings, much prefer finding something a little different.
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.
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 😊
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 😊👍
John Coltrane ('trane) was a tenor saxophonist (he dabbled with Soprano sax later on (also a Bb saxophone)).
I realised afterwards. Thank you 😊
Wow. Nice recommendations. Every single song is extremely well recorded!
Thank you Shoaib 😊👍
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 😊👍
'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.
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 😊👍
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.
Fab, thank you, will listen to all of these shortly
Thank you Stiff Ted 😊👍
Thank u sir
Very nice way to describe each one!!!
Thank you for watching and commenting Cesar 😊👍
I put a spell on you - Larry Carton / Robben Ford (Album:Unplugged) Really well recorded
Thaknow you Rob 😊
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 😊👍
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 😊
I couldn't agree more with your first choice of Flamenco Sketches from Miles Davis' album Kind of Blue. Coincidentally, I just acquired a hybrid SACD of the classic, and already fantastically recorded album and have been listening the heck out of it. If you want a wonderfully recorded and especially great blues number from a FEMALE blues singer, try Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa's album, Don't Explain. Especially the track, I'll Take Care of You. This on a great system will knock you for a loop!!
@@jeffchastain2977 thank you Jeff 😊
Awesome……. Thank you ❤
Just gave it a listen, good one thx 👍
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 😊
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 👍
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 😊👍
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 😊👍
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 :)
Hi Tarun great selection of demo music. I was hoping to find a techno song that you described in one of your YT vids. I remember you describing as if the sound came in waves from the right side of the room, great techno song heavy bass. I really loved that techno beat sounded just as you described it.
Thanks. PS: Maybe create a video of techno electronic demo's perhaps.
Thank you JP. I think it was Make Us Stronger by Ghost Rider. Great track and thank you for the suggestion 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Soul Recover by Ghost Rider. Thanks Tarun! I love that track, it sends me into a Euphoria moment LOL😁
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
Tarun,
I just stumbled across this nearly 3 years after its debut. Not sure how I missed it as I have been following your channel since its inception.
All I can say is I hope you have updated this. My only take was Barbie and Dion. Now what do I suggest you say? Oscar Robertson, We get requests, you look good to me. Chesky Jazz audiophile #2 track 46. Goliath Woodkid. Que Sera Sera, Hidden Citizens. Dracula (Nate sees Cassie) Labrinth. You owe me some good ones now!
I should do an update 😊
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 😊👍
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 😊👍
My tracks for testing system:
Allan Taylor - The Beat Hotel
Chris Jones & Steve Baker - Long After Your're Gone
Heilung - Alfadhirhaiti
Ursine Vulpine feat. Annaca - Wicked Game
Ariane Moffat - SOS d`un Terrien en Detresse
Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence
Thank you Jānis 😊👍
May i suggest Sully Erna - Sinner's Prayer and Until Then?
Thank you Loque 😊👍
Great selection - that Miles Davis album is awesome 👍
Check out Tom’s Diner: Suzanne Vega for pinpoint centre stereo image and Bird On A Wire: Jennifer Warnes for one of the best produced recordings ever.
Thank you MaxH. Will do 😊👍
I always appreciate your comments and recommendations . Three albums which I have found extremely revealing of a system for realistic and to me “religious experience “ elements with nuance, stop what you’re doing and just listen, are: Jazz Poll Winners/Columbia CS 814. Track Selection is Don Elliot& Kenny Burrell. “Poll Tax.” Greg Allman Band I’m No Angel/CBS. Track Selection is “It’s Not My CrossTo Bear.”
Marvin Jenkins, Big City Polomar G24001 (mono). Track Selection is “I’m Always Drunk In San Francisco.” For a number of reasons these albums always make me remember when I feel in love with audio. My fist record was “Sarah Vaughan In HI FI. My second was “Kind Of Blue.”
You never forget your first exciting and memorable experiencing records. By the way, all of selections are and were LPs.
It is great how powerful music can be. Literally provides the soundtrack to our lives. Thank you for your suggestions Thomas 😊👍
I'd forgotten about her. Good low-key voice. Sings like an adult. Unlike many female adult-contemporary/folk artists these days who specialize in sounding like little girls.
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 😊
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 😉👍
Wow!! Afro Bossa sounded so so big and wide. I could hear some instruments on my left and right hand side. This is new to me
Cool 😎
I’ll try to check these out. I use the tidal ultimate system testers playlist a lot. A couple other tests I use are songs by Billie Eilish and from Peter Gabriel’s So (e.g Don’t Give Up with Kate Bush).
Great suggestions. Thank you Neil 😊
Check out Peter Manos, In My Head. It has a lot of things that makes you listen. Attack decay bass, close clean vocals etc. The mastering has some complexity to it with left right ticks and sweeps. The high hat sounds really nice. The master track is available on Tidal.
Thank you for the suggestion. I am not familiar with that one. Will have to check it out 😊👍
Hi Tarun
Firstly, great video and video choice, really enjoyed it ... But.. I’m left really needing to know your ‘Real’ female vocal first choice??
Ps. The thing I like most about Tell Him is the effort two great artist put in to make this sound as good as it could be 😊
Keep up the good work and thanks as always.
Hi Kevin, thank you, much appreciated. I just spent 20 minutes pondering of a response to your question and I can’t come up with an answer. When I am in different moods, I listen to different genres. At the moment I am in a soulful mood. Just listened to...
Aretha Franklin, Today I Sing The Blues
Nina Simone, Backlash Blues
Gladys Knight, Where Peaceful Waters Flow
Now how can you choose between those 3 tracks and that is just one genre. Thank you for the excellent question. Sorry, I can’t come up with an adequate response 😊👍👍
Hi Kris, it makes getting speaker positioning right a little more tricky but doesn’t act as a Hermholz resonator as it has quite a lot of stuff in it. The log burner, logs, card and paper (used as kindling) accessories, candle holders break up standing waves pretty well and provides a bit of diffusion in a non linear manner.
Good luck Kris 😉
Thanks Tarun, not to change the subject here but when you talk about speed and transients I think class D mated to a tube preamp. My tube of choice is the 6922 and I'm using the reissued Gold Lion right now which I personally like. I've built a couple of D's so far using the ICE modules which are very good but I haven't heard the newer GaN amps yet. Did you review the Purifi? If so I guess I missed it.
I think the key to evaluation music is knowing the music you're using for the evaluation. Personally I like several of the Kiri Te Kanawa tracks on her Gershwin album "Kiri Sings Gershwin". It's a big brassy well recorded album and if your system has any sharpness or harshness in it you'll hear it pretty fast. The instruments are well defined on the album also.
For simpler music like guitars I use Kottke's albums. They're a little heavy in the studio manipulation area but again, if you know the albums, you can get a lot of information about your system out of them. Another great album for evaluation is the Cristina Pluhar " Los Pajaros Perdides" with lots of pan flutes and well recorded vocals. For rock I like U2, "The Joshua Tree" is a good one for me. Just my pics. Orchestra classical seems to me the best for complex sound, I like the Telarc 9th with the Cleveland Orchestra.
Thank you my friend. I haven’t reviewed the Purifi as yet. Thank you for sharing your experiences 👍😊👍
Dire straights love over gold for me.
I could do a whole video on my love of Dire Straits 😊
A British Audiophile do it Tarun 👍👍👍
On Every Street: You And Your Friend has been my go-to for decades, even for car setup and headphones 😆
@@SaltedFishPilot great tracks 😊