What are your go to LP's for evaluating new gear or new tubes?

You could try Elend -The Umbersun- CD. Bloody hell. Neoclassical. I don't quite remember if that recording is good but the music is..unusual. I haven't listened to it for some years.

Just don't call me names, it's not everyone's taste.

Also, symphonic music conducted by Herbert von Karajan.

billpete,

Yes, I use a combination of poor and good recordings. Most of what I listen to was not recorded well, but I want it to sound as good as possible.

Also, specifically in my case, electric guitar must sound right or close to it, especially earlier John McLaughlin's electric guitar. Not to mention his acoustic guitar, of course.

Di Meola's album that I mentioned is very very different. It was recorded in 1985, that's when I heard it for the first time. Mesmerizing and unusual non-trivial music. I don't like his fusion style and electric guitar work, with some exceptions. For his acoustic guitar performance try also Heart Of The Immigrants CD. A few compositions are excellent, well recorded for the time as well.

Yes, first you play piano, vocal and acoustic guitar. If this is not good enough, there is no reason to continue. Then you check for everything else.

billpete,

yes, great recording will sound not too bad on your average $2k system but poor recording will be almost unlistenable.

billpete, I choose then because they must sound as good as possible even if not recorded well.

Besides, true class of a system is defined by how well it can reproduce poor recordings.

Mahavishnu Orchestra was never well recorded, nor was Bitches Brew. But since I like all that so much I do use them to test the system. But MIles's trumpet still sounds about as it should on the recording. Inner Mounting Flame, especially a few tracks, are great to evaluate the dynamics.

Oregon's bass player plays custom acoustic bass. It sounds excellent and goes low.

To evaluate deeper bass I use Oregon - Beyond Words CD. Chesky Records.

1. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew. Japanese promo first pressing.

2. Mahavishnu Orchestra - Inner Mounting Flame. Japanese promo first pressing

3. Al Di Meola - Cielo e Terra. Japanese promo first pressing.

4. Dead Can Dance - Into The Labyrinth. Original UK pressing.

5.Dead Can Dance - Aion. Original UK promo.