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Best qobuz records to compare dac upgrades

I would like to upgrade my dac, from a topping 70s to something matching the quality of the rest of the system, likely in the range below 4k. To minimize the impact of interplay between different audio components (ampli, dac, speakers, power,...) I intend to use my headphone ampli and headphones (Aurium and Senn 880, resp), sourced by Qobuz and Auralic Aries2, auditioning different dacs. Comparing different hardware requires recordings of sufficient quality to avoid sort of saturation in how good the final signal could become. Some music i love, and which I would naively use for the comparisons, might fail to enhance the different quality of different dacs, since the recording itself is not good enough to reveal important differences. E.g. I noticed that some releases offered in 24 bits are not particularly better than their standard, lower rate, editions. I wonder whether you have good suggestions for tracks that in your experience  are particularly valuable in such an exercise. I mostly listen to jazz, classical and opera, but I am very open to all good music, and anyway this is sort of a technical test, so any good suggestion is welcome!

128x128michelangelo
arhgef
55 posts
 

Check out Geminiani Concrti Grossi. Academy of ancient music. Harmonia  Mundi. 

jeoneil
29 posts
 

Himmelrand

Himmelborgen

Brahms Ein deutches Requiem, op 45, live, Cappella Amsterdam

the first two are on Qobuz, not sure about the third but it’s worth some searching among the many recordings of this masterpiece. Tidal has it

 

jeoneil
29 posts
 

Ramirez: Kyrie (Vidala-Baguala) (Album Version)

this one will sound good on anything but improve as the system gets better. The others are harder to reproduce

jrw1971
62 posts
 

Blake Mills “Heigh Ho” album.  Unbelievably well-recorded, mastered, etc.  and the bass is a great test for lots of things.  

lollipopguild's avatar
lollipopguild
132 posts
 

I'm not a jazz fan, but I do recognise that jazz recordings are generally brilliantly engineered with only a handful of acoustic instruments.

In particular, Gershwin's World by Herbie Hancock (24-192) is spectacular, both for vocals and instruments.  The piano is the best I've experienced and will test the leading edges and dynamics of your mid-range like no other.  

For bass slam, the new Perfume Genius album, Ugly Season (24-96), is quite something.  It is also a little bright, so will expose a bright system ruthlessly.  Try the tracks Pop Song, and for an immersive experience the stupendous Eye in the Wall.

For well recorded vocal:  Always This Way by Laura Marling.

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