Great sounding audio CD's/DVD's to demostrate speakers?

[guitarplyrstevo]

So I finally got promoted into the sales position at Fry's Electronics and have been looking into some CD's or DVD audio CD's which I can demonstrate speakers with. I have realized that you can almost make anything sound good with a properly recorded track. So far I have been using some Ray Charles stuff which sounds real good, since it is DVD audio, but I want to have some different choices which my customers can choose from according to their own personal tastes. Can you guys please suggest some great sounding CD's which I can demonstrate speakers with?

One more thing, I have read somewhere that the absolute best recorded cd is the Dark Side of the Moon CD by Pink Floyd because it was recorded in analog giving all the tracks warmth and fullness; is this true?

 

[MDS]

No it is not true that Dark Side of the Moon was recorded entirely in analog. BUT, most CDs are recorded analog and then mastered to digital. Analog vs digital is not the issue - after all ALL sound is analog. A 'digitall recorded CD' simply means that the original analog sound was digitized at the time of recording vs post-processing of the analog recording.

What matters is what the mastering engineer does to the recorded sound. You want a good CD that isn't super compressed and still retains a good portion of the original dynamic range. Pink Floyd CDs are a good example of that but what if the customer doesn't care for the music itself?

 

[corey]

There's a re-mastered DSOTM available on the net. The audio is 4.0 - no special LFE track, but the music really comes from all around you. Very well done, & I think it would be a great way to demo surround sound.

 

[bandphan]

chesky.com has a great selection

 

[Biggiesized]

The Varese Saranbande version of the Conan the Barbarian OST sounds stunning. There is not total clarity separation between all of the instruments as it is an orchestral arrangement (it could do for a remaster), but the mix is out of this world. It's incredibly punchy and dynamic. To be honest, it rouses my soul every time I listen to it. I'm trying to procure a cheaper copy at the moment, but I do have the album in MP3. I'll show you the waveforms when I get home. The music is incredibly epic.

Don't go for the Milan release because it has 4 less tracks (it was released first).

Here is a link to the product page on Amazon for the Varese Sarabande version:

http://www.amazon.com/Conan-Barbarian-Original-Picture-Soundtrack/dp/B0000014T1/

It has over 100 reviews and all of them give it praise.

 

[Exit]

If you want something visual to go with the sound, try Pink Floyd's Pulse DVD. The entire first DVD is Dark Side of the Moon live. It is very well done like the studio sessions only integrated with a video presentation. It is also in surround sound. The CD is also good as you might suspect but no surround sound.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have said it before, but it is worth mentioning again: Seven Veils by Robert Rich is the best sounding CD I have ever heard, bar none.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

One more thing, I have read somewhere that the absolute best recorded cd is the Dark Side of the Moon CD by Pink Floyd because it was recorded in analog giving all the tracks warmth and fullness; is this true?

In its day, DSotM was the best recording. It was my reference for years. Modern recording technology has simply left it in the dust, however.

 

[j_garcia]

Jazz at the Pawnshop. On CD and SACD.

DSOTM on SACD is also an excellent choice.

If you do a search in the music area, there are more than a few threads on this already.

 

[adwilk]

Jazz at the Pawnshop. On CD and SACD.

DSOTM on SACD is also an excellent choice.

If you do a search in the music area, there are more than a few threads on this already.

Porcupine Trees albums are excellent...

 

[chadnliz]

Chesky discs and Telarc have excellent mostly Classical recordings...Chesky has great Jazz also.

For Rock N Roll, Dire Straits, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, 3 Doors Down all have generally very well recorded albums.

Jazz, Jazz at the Pawn shop...most Jazz sounds good to be honest.

Country, Clint Black, Alan Jackson but watch for latest compressed tittles.

Blue Grass, Allison Kraus and Union Station, Nickle Creek.

Blues, Robert Cray

Rives Audio, Stereophile and Chesky all have samplers to describe what the songs intent was..(height, warmth, scale, Dynamics)