best songs to discern a good system


I have been building an arsenal of music to test certain aspects of speakers for some time. Below is a list of what I use and why. I am interested to find out what others use and what they listen for in each selection.

Jennifer Warnes "Way down deep" off the cd "the Hunter". This is a great song and the lower bass is an african drum that is actually squeezed in order to get a unique sound. It is very tough for a subwoofer (the one note only kind) to reproduce this.

Vital Tech tones "VTT" this is a fantastic example of musical bass not just earth shattering low notes. Victor Wooten plays amazingly, even though this track is just to introduce the band it is one of my favorites.

Nine Inch Nails "into the void" I have heard this sound incredibly convincing on a pair of revel ultima studios. I use this track once I have found a system that has great imaging and soundstaging to test to make sure the kick drum sounds like a skin being struck and not a speaker.

Greg Brown "who killed **** Robin" great male vocals. The breathieness of the track is very lifelike on the correct system.

Diana Krall "Frim Fram Sauce" I use this track to see how liquid the system is. To determine if the instruments sound smooth and fluid from top to bottom.

Patricia Barber "Touch of trash" Mobile fidelity original master version. This is a great track to here image and sound stage of a small band and vocals.

The Eagles "Hotel California" from the JVC XRCD reissue. Great guitar to test the smoothness of the midrange.

The Sheffield Lab Drum and track Disc (JVC XRCD2 reissue). I try not to listen to test tracks even when auditioning new speakers, but tracks 1 and 2 speak volumes to how a good system can recreate a drum kit in your room.

Please let me know what you use. Thanks.
hahnzie
Tim,

Glad to hear you liked it.
I just listened to "a nod to Bob" samples on Amazon. Sounds like they have some great artists on that one!
What I've done is to use Audacity (free software) to cut specific excerpts from my favorite tracks, and create my own 15 min CD for auditioning speakers/components.

Besides the usual music, other recommended tracks include the Phase Check and LEDR Test tracks from the Chesky Audiophile Test CD Vol. 1

http://www.amazon.com/Chesky-Records-Sampler-Audiophile-Compact/dp/B000003GF3

As mentioned elsewhere, the most important thing is listening to tracks/excerpts that you know VERY WELL.
I received a speaker set up disc with a copy of Ballad of a Runaway Horse by Emmylou Harris from a local shop. Truly an amazing recording.