Sound Quality Songs

[mauibuilt59]

What are some good songs that are recorded with really good sound quality. Which ones are best to listen to when comparing speakers. I know that all the magazines listen to tracy chapman's Heavens Here on Earth. But what else?

Will listening to a cd recorded at 24-bit going to be any better than a regular cd in a player with only a 1-bit DAC?

[cam2Xrunner]

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PINK FLOYD!!!!

Gladiator - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'. Specifically, Track 3 is a superb test track that would test the best of the equipment. It consists of very complex passages full of instruments covering the whole spectrum.. Use this to test accurate imaging and instrument seperation.

Individual Songs

Alice In Chains - No Excuses
Off the Unplugged cd its just raw and the drum is what your listening for it should be right up in front along with the rest of the band. The Drums are very tight and crisp.

Batman Oveture
What can I say the highs are screaming, there are some very hard passages in this song, and the ending with the ultra low bass makes this a most have for any SQ test cd

Bela Fleck and The Flecktones - Far East Medley
One of my favorite bands and one of my favorite tracks by them, This recording is flawless for being live. And the song mixes up so many different styles. Victor Wootens bass lines are stunning.

Boyz II Men - So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday
All accapella gives you something to see if your system can accuratly produce the male voice.

Breathe A Tribute To The Dave Matthews Band - Dont Drink The Water
Well first off this is a bluegrass band and this track has some nice low end extension but the true point of this song is the mandolin, the fiddle, and the banjo all hard instruments to recreate accuratly.

Christina Aguilera - Beautiful
They say the female voice is the hardest to recreate, in this song Christina goes thru many octaves proving again like it or not she has a amazing voice.

Dave Matthews And Soulive - Joyful Girl
Excellent recording with a pounding bass line. The mixture of instruments and Daves voice smack dab in the middle make it a great tune.

Dave Matthews Band - Intro Listener Supported
This is the intro to the bands live cd Listener Supported it has a killer kicker drum thru out the song simulating a heart beat and Leroi Moore on the saxaphone is incredible. Has a nice build up to it finally goes into the next song which you dont get LOL..

Dave Matthews Band - Two Step
Incredible imaging and space. Subs will get a work out with the fast paced bass line. Incredible SQ song

David Gray - Please Forgive Me
Excellent recording his voice should be right in the middle of your soundstage. Incredible bass drop towards the end of the song.

Eric Clapton - Lonely Stranger
This is one of the most respected live recordings ever. So much going on in this song it should really bring your system alive from Eric keeping a beat tapping his foot on the floor, to the triangle hits in the percussion section.

Genesis - Dance On A Volcano
Old school SQ Track, Crazy intro should have your subs pounding and your highs screaming. Proceeds into a crazy off beat measure.

Genesis - Squonk
One Word BASS, killer old school SQ track

Grant Green - Idle Moments
Excellent recording, Piano one of the hardest instruments to reproduce correctly then to top it off throw a Xylophone into the mix for a excellent SQ track

Grant Green - 'Round Midnight
This guitar should jump right out at ya, Grants playing is so smooth and recording is perfect in everyway picks up every little nuance of his playing. The very subtle drumming is incredible add in a nice upright bass line and you got a classic mellow Jazz tune.

John Mayer - Daughters
John has such a distinct voice and this recording puts it right in the middle of the soundstage, it also is the focus of the song.

John Mayer - Victoria
Excellent recording and killer bass from such a simple song. Just a simple guitar, bass, vocal track

John Williams - Jurassic Park Ending Credits
Nice low end extension and the strings make it a great song to show off your system.

Klaus Badelt - Swords Crossed And Walk The Plank
These two tracks are from the Pirates Of The Caribean Soundtrack and is a complete system workout. I use these two tracks to demonstrate my system more than anything else. It will work out your speakers. Beware of LOW LOW Bass

Madonna - Vogue
Excellent intro from the finger snaps to the bassline.. Great old school demo song

Maroon 5 - Secret
The first thing you notice is your subs are going nuts during the thunderstorm intro, but then it leads into the
song which is extremely detailed and sounds fantastic on a well balanced system

Nickel Creek - Reasons Why
This song is incredible, from the instruments(Mandolin, Guitar, Bass, Fiddle) to the two part harmonies which
will have your front stage sparkling

Nora Jones - Cold Cold Heart
She has such a amazing voice and as stated before the female voice is one of the most difficult things to
reproduce. And hers is simply jaw dropping..

Nora Jones - Dont Know Why
See Above

Orff - O Fortuna
Well we all know are systems can play loud but what about subtle nuances in music often lost in translation this song is incredible and the ending will have the subs pounding.

Phish - You Enjoy Myself
This song covers just about every instrument you can think of. Incredible musicianship and pinpoints instruments
as each player gets his moment in the spotlight. At times it is very complex as each musician is making his point.


Steely Dan - FM
Excellent intro for left and right seperation as two guitars appear on seperate channels. Add to that some killer bass and kick drums and you got a excellent tune. Another old school SQ track

Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathoustra
Low LOw LOW bass line, the timpanis the strings and brass section.. Cant beat it for just pure excellence.

Eagles Hotel California, is known as a Reference for SQ

Dire Straights- Brothers in Arms

Eagles-Hell Freezes Over

Flectones-Live Art

Anything from Tool, Lateralus especially

Boston-Greatest Hits

If you like Classical music

Reference recordings release of "Pines of Rome" by Respeghi (grammy a few years back for best engineered album)

Reference Recordings release of "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Mussorgsky/Ravel

XRCD24 release of "Rites of Spring" by Stravinsky

Jazz:

A Love Supreme by Coltrane

Take 5 by Dave Brubeck

Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus.

If you like Trance check out
Paul Van Dyck
Armin Van Buuren
Ferry Corsten
Tiesto
Sasha and John Digweed


Frank Sinatra has clean recordings

Vanessa Carlton - Be Not Nobody
Enigma - Love, Sensuality, Devotion
Alice in Chains - Down in a Hole (Live Version by MTV Unplugged)
Loreena McKennitt
Chesky Jazz
Dido - Life for Rent
Pink Floyd - DarkSide of the Moon
Rem - Best of 1988 - 2003 (Special Edition)
Sarah McLachlan - Mirrorball
Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Evanescence - Fallen
Depeche Mode - Exciter
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Orgy - Vapor Transmission
Fleetwood Mac - (Any/All Albums)

Tony Bennett: Steppin Out. Great recording, great performer. Wonderful piano sound.

Tracy Chapman, very good recordings.