Same CD/Album or Music ,In cable comparison,

Its only important that (1) you have a system which is sufficiently resolved to reveal the differences, (2) that you know the record you are listening to "by heart", and (3)you know what you are listening for. There are too many varibles involved beside the record for the record to be a meaningful issue in the context of standardization. IMHO.

Creege, Lets get pratical now - Who gets to choose the record(s). Personally, I'd agree to Eva Cassidy, but then I'd never get to listen to the sonics, just Eva. And who really wants to know ***** by heart, its such crap! :-)

Creege, I'd didn't mean to imply that your idea was crap (if it appears to you that I did). And I can understand your frustration with reviewers who talk on at length about how some piece of music sounded on two different components, especially when they have music which you have never heard - it just becomes meaningless (to me at least).

My poor attempts at humor aside, what I really believe is that if I am talented enuf for you to respect my opinion in the first place it really doesn't matter what type of music I listen to in order to reach an opinion, so long as you know my equipment, my room, and my personal tastes. If you don't know me or my things and taste, you really have nothing to work with, except your subjective reaction.

Another problem, for many I assume, is that records that I listen to for judging equipment are records that I have come to appreciate over the years for certain traits. All are NLA on the market, except used, and only a couple are in any sense audiophile disc's (which I personally dislike for these purposes as many of these records are so well made that they will sound great over crappy components). I tend to choose discs that challenge certain aspects of electronics. For example, I have a solo piano recording that in one brief section has a very complex and loud mixture of notes which on many components becomes harsh and unpleasant, and on others dull and rolled off. If its bright and musical, then the component is handling that part of the spectrum perfectly. The record also works well on system set up as often the problem is in the first relected sounds mixing with the first arrival sounds prematurely.

Sorry for dragging this out, I wish I could be more positive about your idea, but I think this is an area in which we must all, ultimately, find our own way.

Tvad, I just saw your note - I never did see your post though. Come on, its Saturday and your on the computer. Its been kind of boring around here lately.......

Because you persist, and because if you can find it it will be of great help to you personally in setting up and evaluating your system - Depth of Image by Opus 3. This is symply recorded acoustic music in various venues by various groups playing different instruments and includes male and female voices. Properly setup it defines what your system can do image wise and can be downright spooky. I heard it first about 20 years ago and in one one cut I felt I could have walked in amoungst the musicians and joined them! If you ever see it LP or CD buy it and use it, but only if you are up to the challenge........

Very close, but no cigar! As you might have figured out, this was a series of records/cd and the one you displayed was the last one, but don't let that stop you. Buy it!

The record I was referring to was "Test Record 1" in the series, "Depth of Image". Get all four if you can, they all serve a good purpose.

In looking at the Opus 3 site I notice that they had a CD with selections from Test Records 1, 2, and 3. As Test Record 1 had only about 40 minutes of materiel, you might get some excellent stuff from that one CD alone. I assume that it will be accompanied by a description of what you should hear with each cut - that is really helpful. Otherwise, its probably off to E-Bay.

Just to whet your appitite, on Test Record 1 they have a cut of a recorder playing in its upper registers - what a challenge this is to your system! Done wrong, your dog will commit suicide! The also have a cut with a group doing pan pipes and drums, and talking amounst themeselves while trying to do so (pan pipes are a bit difficult) - this was the cut that I said I could have walked in amoung the players. They also have a Swedish female singer which will help you with the amount of sibilence you should hear and the opening of the cut includes some out of phase notes which place part of the sound of the guitar far left of the left speaker (or it should if your speakers are set up properly), and a bass violin playing very clear very deep bass tones - or at least thats what you should hear!

Good luck in your quest........