The Weight by The Band, in IMHO, is a great track for either showing off sound stage or testing speaker placement. They didn't pan the drums and Levon's vocals are nailed squarely to them. The vocal harmonies track left to right and are also localized to the instruments. The overall effect is really eye-popping.
If you don't mind a more modern vibe the Experimental Remixes! of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is nothing short of wizardry. This is music that spreads out before you, behind you and comes from spaces I didn't think possible from two speakers. Genius. |
|
Return To Forever - returns (2 disc ) live set |
Two of my favs...
Diana Krall - The Look of Love
Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Sessions |
Percussion Music, on Nonesuch label, New Jersey Percussion Ensemble. |
This: (http://www.elusivedisc.com/MUDDY-WATERS-FOLK-SINGER-200g-45rpm-2LP/productinfo/APLP1483-45/) and this: (http://www.elusivedisc.com/Diana-Krall-Live-In-Paris-Numbered-Limited-Edition-180g-45rpm-2LP/productinfo/ORGLP0003-45/) |
Believe it or not...Vogue by Madonna. I believe it is on the Immaculate Collection album. This is recorder in Q-Sound and there are parts when she goes into vocals where her voice comes from all corners of the room if the system is capable. |
"Before The Deluge" by Jackson Browne is the one tune I always use for this. |
Nils Peter Molvaer on ECM CD, Germany;
The Orb -- experimental electronic music project on 2xlp
Ashkenazy plays Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 3 on Super Analogue vinyl.
Actually none mentioned Dark Side of the Moon yet... |
Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions |
Mercy Street, especially the opening bars, from Peter Gabriel's "So" album.
A lot of the tracks on Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature" and especially the track called "True Companion" from the compilation "Steely Dan Gold."
"Morning Bird" from Sade's "Soldier Of Love" album. The entire room should be immersed in the piano.
Pretty much every track on Dyan's "Oh Mercy."
"Dark Side Of The Moon," of course.
I'll think of others... |
With classical music (the bulk of my collection), I really don't have that many recommendations based on soundstaging (I don't really listen for that quality). However, a few recordings are memorable for those qualities, sucb as:
Respighi: Church Windows (Reference Recordings)
Vivaldi: Concerti Pour Hautbois, Basson et Cordes (Astree)
Falla: Three Cornered Hat-Ansermet (Decca-JVC XRCD)
Mozart: Clarinet and Horn Concerto-de Peyer, Tuckwell, Maag (Decca)
For popular music:
Nouvelle Vague: Self Titled (might be a Q-sound recording because the soundstage is extremely wide)
Roger Waters: Amuzed to Death (Q-sound recording that even has sounds seeming to come from behind the listener)
Lambchop: Is a Woman
Be Good Tanyas: Chinatown
Cowboy Junkies: 'Neath the Covers
For Jazz, there are MANY great sounding recordings, though few stand out as far as wide soundstaging is concerned (except where wide means hole in the middle). As a general rule almost anything on ECM will sound good. Some others notable for soundstage/sound quality:
LA4: Just Friends (lp)
Mary Stallings: Fine and Mellow (lp)
Great Jazz Trio: Direct from LA (lp) |
Hi, I was not a fan, my wife is, now I am a fan, Believe it or not, Michael Jackson-Greatest Hits History volume 1, has a unblievable, chills up and down your body sound stage and clarity that is something to behold!, cheers. |
Took response34's advice and played Madonna's "Vogue" and was blown away by the soundstage. It did indeed extend beyond my de Capo's horizontal plane! In fact, much of The Immaculate Collection post 1984 is immaculately produced. Thanks for the tip, r34. |
Decca SXL2313 Herold - Lanchbery La Fille Mal Gardée - Excerpts |
Glad you liked Simao?
History is a great recording. One of those albums you want to crank to 11. In fact, a lot of Michael Jackson's recording are nicely done. |
|
