What is your one reference track for putting a system through it's paces?

What is your one reference track for putting a system through it's paces?
And what is it about that track that shines through when you listen to it on a real top system?

Andy

 

King Crimson - Starless. [Red]

It covers all the areas that test a hi-fi, bass, timing, vocals, dynamics, melody and seperation.

Having said that I use the following tracks which all test specific areas

• Understars- Brian Eno - Apollo
• Birdland Acoustic Mania - Naim Sampler 2
• Starless - King Crimson - Red
• When You Return - Capercaillie - Capercaillie
• Hermetology - Iain Ballamy - Acme
• Stimela - Hugh Masekela - Hope
• Finleys - Capercaillie - Live
• Italian Concerto - Jacques Loussier Plays Bach
• Storm - Britten - Sea Interludes
• Spem in Alium Thomas Tallis - Anthems
• Cum Sancto Spirito - J S Bach - B Minor Mass

 

Gotan project ..Triptico. It's a nice recording but not audiophool, has massive bass, a good spread of intruments and on a good system sounds really live and hugely dynamic, especially the guitars and accordian. I use it mostly as it's one of my favorite tunes of all time.

 

That always helps

 

Def Leppard's Hysteria album.

Production doesn't get much better than this...it's just superb.

 

simply reds sad old red. superb production.

 

Mmmm - just the one track - I don't like it much ( ) but I always play "Walk on Gilded Splinters" from Paul Wellers Stanley Road. it's well produced with some tricksy stuff and has a nice "whoomph" at the end, if you know what I mean. I've four other audition regulars from varying genres, but I'll shae these later.

Neil

 

Great choice, I also like Pyromania.

 

"Sad And Lonely" by the underrated Secret Machines. A new band, imagine that! Check it out, got loads of wah wah, guitar breaks and space rock noises in it. A real system tester!

 

The allegro from Shotakovich's 10th symphony - I use the Jansons/Philadelphia recording on EMI.

Great dynamics frm an orcestra in full flow and when the percussion kicks in... wow.

If I don't get excited by this then I ain't buying the component.

 

Bob the builder and Mr Blobby. If I can sit through them without turning it off it must be good. ***this has never happened***

 

Wey hey! Great cover, and those classic 80s drums - big and beefy, just like "Sister christian" by Night Ranger in places - love it!

One of mine is "Dancing with Kadafi" by Infected Mushroom - all digital, but lots of different tempos and styles in one track.

Stuff off of Love's "Forever changes" or Air's "Moon safari" often crop up as well.

 

diana krall : all for you (Track1) and The girls in the other rooms (Track 2)
metallica : metallica (Track 4 and 8)

 

When 1 became 4

Very difficult to find 1 that does it all, I would probably go for Radihead Paranoid android, as production is slick and the tune has many different twists and turns from violent guitar attracks to ambient harmonies.

 

oh God, one track only?

Ravel's Bolero perhaps? Got very quiet bits, got very loud bits, got big swings in dynamics, got little swings in micro-dynamics etc. etc.

I think the cymbal is one of the best instruments for highlighting splashy, uncontrolled treble and digital "sheen". Poor system matching or components will render them unlistenable very quickly IMO. I believe the following are excellent for determining any failing in this regard:

Oscar Peterson Trio - Night Train (Thigpen's drums are closely miked, and the cymbals are played aggressively, right at the front of the mix)

The Police - EBYT - (numerous tracks including Roxanne that are very cymbal heavy)

DT

 

Either Private Investigations by Dire Straits, or, Fields of Gold by Sting

 

Wuthering Heights.

 

Time ...Darkside of the moon, if I had to chose on track. Its the alarm clocks that do it...everyone knows what they should sound like!

 

"Sad and Lonely" by the Secret Machines or "Single Again" by the Fiery Furnaces.

 

All joking aside - that's actually not a bad track to test a rig on - especially on vinyl; if your end-of-side tracking is so-so, you'll soon know about it on this track!