It cannot be only two but here are two that I often choose.
Dire Straits - Calling Elvis
Cowboy Junkies - Crescent Moon
Only two tracks to test your system, forever!
If you could only use two tracks/songs for the rest of your life whenever you wanted to test a change to your system, what would they be?
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I definitely get the two song angle because there’s always just one or two non-negotiable tracks you’re hot to run as test tracks. I’m probably dating myself when I choose Clapton’s Signe as something good to warm up the ears before I get serious with Old Love (’buh buh buh buh...old love...’) from Unplugged and Kurt Elling’s Downtown from Live In Chicago. I don't want to be one of the predictable old guys walking around with Diana Krall discs, but her No Moon At All from Turn Up The Quiet is an extremely well recorded test track. Back in the ’90s and early 00s when you can hang in audio salons (when there were actually were audio stores to hang in) I remember hearing a lot of Rebecca Pidgeon’s Spanish Harlem and any track from Eva Cassidy Live At Blues Alley. |
For me it would have to be classical music, although I listen to jazz and rock as well, as there is nothing, at least in my mind, as difficult to make sound natural as music in a concert hall. 1) Gershwin's An American in Paris which is side 2 on a specific vinyl recording (from the TAS best vinyl recordings list), an RCA Living Stereo recording with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. Easy to find streaming as well as on cd. It is a virtual obstacle course for a system. The shrill woodwinds, full string section playing extremely high notes together and sound effects will really test a system. If you're hesitant about yours passing, my suggestion is don't try it. It is a great recording and totally resolvable but not by every system. 2) My number 2 choice is any number of solo piano pieces because what I am looking for is it actually sounding like a grand piano being present in the listening room. Liszt Sonata in B minor is a good one.
If you pass these then human voice, jazz, and rock are a piece of cake in my mind. Your results may vary however.
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@richdirector How did I miss Trio Jeepy? Thx |
@allenf1963 Wow. That is a fantastic list of tracks. I may just set that up as a short playlist. |
Wong question for me Peter Gabriel. SO. Glass Animals Tangerine. There is a percussive strike that will hurt if you turn it up like I did by mistake. Frank Zappa, many very clear and dynamic. Gong Shamal soundstage, percussion, saxophone Pink Floyd the wall Sturgill Simpson meta modern sound. Vocals. Weeknd. DAWN Fm. See what you think. Very 3d. Solid bass to 25 Hz. At least that's as low as my system goes. I will stop now. |
The concept of a test song is tricky. I have certain songs that I consider torture tracks for a vinyl rig (Slim Gaillard - Jump Session - 78rpm) and other songs that I feel like run the gamut of a full spectrum sound (Radiohead - Pulk-Pull). These can reveal the health of my system after a change. On the other side of the coin are those songs you know so well that any change in soundstage or presence can be detected. Dinah Washington - Blue Skies (33rpm 10" Jam Session - Mono) and Red Allen / Coleman Hawkins - Summertime (12" - Stereo) are my goto's in that department. Finally, as some have mentioned here, songs to show off your system to others. I have totally given up on this concept - bring whatever crap you want and I'll play it. My musical passions of the week (Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, anybody?) just turn others off. |
"Telegraph Road" -- Dire Straits "Anesthetize" -- Porcupine Tree "Blackest Eyes" -- Porcupine Tree (I get chills everything I hear Steven Wilson’s whispered backtrack in the first verse, "It’s so erotic when your makeup runs.") "Coil" and "Heir Apparent" -- Opeth
More than two songs, I know....sorry! |
I really wanted people to be restricted to only two songs, as that was the whole point of the idea here. But, seeing how many already flubbed that rule, I’m gonna add another one too 😂. This one might be better for testing across the FR range than either song I started the thread with: Marcus Miller - Preacher’s Kid Check it out |
There are some good tracks here. My favourite for sorting out a big system is The Comedown from Bring Me The Horizon’s Suicide Season album: nice sub-bass synth notes under the general mathrock drum/riffage chaos and too much sonic layering for most systems to sort out at realistic/satisfying SPL. Also, sudden silences mid-track. For a not-quite-so-big system I often go with Figure 8 from FKA twigs M3LL55X which has similar sub-bass range and sonic complexity but not the same extreme SPL requirement to really work. Logically we want a natural/acoustic track to see how the micro-dynamics and instrumental/vocal timbres play out. I don’t really listen to that kind of thing much so lack expertise to make a good selection. But I sometimes go with The Dandy Warhols Welcome to the Monkey House (any track really) for a more laid-back feeling. @emrofsemanon is on to something with the LEDR test though. Especially if ’test a change’ is the key criteria. Oh, people suggesting entire symphonies are cheating. Their punishment is listening to them of course, so that’s ok with me. If we are going for length because of the ’rest of your life’ criteria, then yeule’s 4:44 (named for the track duration in hours:minutes) or one of Autechre’s n-hour extravaganzas. But neither are really good as test tracks.
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@dinov I'm loving these answers too! It's getting me to dig into albums I haven't listened to for a couple decades. |
System test (Qobuz) Pick two.
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What an interesting, thought provoking question. With live music as the standard for me, here are my two: Lyn Stanley - Pink Cadillac and Route 66 on 15ips RtR tape (London With A Twist, Live At Bernie’s). Stupidly expensive, but, SQ second to none IMHO. Eric Clapton - Unplugged on MFSL Ultradisc One-Step, especially the Before You Accuse Me track. OK, there is some controversy about using a DSD file to make the lacquers. But, who cares when SQ is this good, outstanding. I intend to work my way through the list of suggested tracks, thanks gladmo. |
Only 2?? Waahhh! OK. “Walking On The Moon” by Yuri Honig Trio…open and dynamic Mahler 6th by the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra on CD or Tidal…live. I was there and the recording nails it. Runners Up: “Kit Carson” by Bruce Cockburn on Nothing But A Burning Light ”Pathway To Glory” Loggins and Messina from Full Sail “Blue Motel Room” Joni Mitchell Hejira |
@dynamiclinearity ....Pentangle, +1....'Sweet Child'. +10, and vinyl (Yes, I can....;) ....and do, sometimes...) The 2nd varies, dependent on what I'm thinkin' on listenin' for.... After melodic, something stark, wild, insane inane.... The Tubes "Talk to You Later" shreds the webs... |
