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Recommendations for really well-recorded music for high-end audio system demo

I’m using my system to give some local high-end audio demos for fun, and although I have a good selection of tracks I can always use more and am sure you guys have some great ones out there.  First and foremost I’m looking for really well-recorded material that shows off what a good system can do — you know, the “wow your friends” tracks we all have, and if it happens to be good/fun music as well that’s a nice bonus although not necessarily a requirement.  I’d recommend listing the artist, album, and track so it’s easier to find the right version, and if you feel like elaborating on anything notable that makes it particularly good for a demo that’d be helpful/interesting but not necessary.  As an example…

  • Patricia Barber, Companion, “Like JT” — Great live jazz club vibe, fun instrumental with excellent imaging/depth/3D soundstage.

Thanks for anything ya got!

soix
barts's avatar
barts
696 posts
 

@soix 

Acoustic Alchemy -  Arcanum - Casino:  tremendous playing, clarity, freq range.

                                                                instrumental.

The original CD version is much better than Qobuz.

Regards,

barts

 

dlhensonjr
3 posts
 

Earl "Fatha" Hines.  Direct to Disc.  Vinyl version of course.

Fun, light and open.

dlhensonjr
3 posts
 

If you want a little more rock, Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

MO-FI 45 rpm recording.  Oh man.

Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

lyramax
3 posts
 

Cowboy Junkies' Trinity Revisited (CD).

inagroove
57 posts
 

I have Mofi, Reference Recordings, Shefield Labs, Impex, AP, Blue Note, Mercury Living Presence, and most of the other labels.  In addition to standard 33&1/3, I have 45 rpm, 1/2 speed master, 1-Step, and even a single-sided 4-disc set from Classic (Nora Jones, Come Away With Me)

 

For straight SQ, the winner air my VTL LPs, a.) Doctor, b.) Josh.   The best 'value' high SQ label is Windham Hill (1/2 speed master by Stan Ricker, Bernie G., etc.)  I listen to one of them most evenings.

Also, @ tubes4good mentioned 'anything on Chesky'.  My Chesky LPs are excellent (~10, or so), but I would give the upper SQ-hand to Harmonia Mundi (the original French records, not the BASF French-German records, which are a step lower in SQ).

You pick, and happy listening...

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