Songs you use when auditioning gear


What are some of your favorite songs to play when auditioning gear?  I often listen to Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.  Just about anything off of Gaucho or Aja by Steely Dan or Joni Mitchell’s Hejira or Hissing of Summer Lawns usually gets spun up too.  Dreams, in particular, is such a great song and is recorded with the balance I really like as well as a full and wide soundstage.  Wondering what some of yours are to see what I’m missing.

128x128jastralfu

@jastralfu yes all that at the end + toss in all the bells (carillon?) ringing and you really have quite the full frequency range, with macro and micro dynamics, challenge for your poor hifi to try and reproduce all at once without screaming “uncle”. 

@mapman yes I was quite surprised by it especially the bells! I think my setup handled it reasonably well at least as far as I can tell, I could still clearly make out all the different instruments and their place in the soundstage.

The Cars Albums

Supertramps Crime of the Century

Alan Parson Eye in the Sky 

 

@jastralfu Glad you liked that selection.  You mentioned you're looking for well recorded jazz.  I'll recommend again Side 1 of Miles Davis - In A Silent Way.  It is a stunning recording.  Cheers.