Your Speaker Test Music ??

[snappy_snoopy]

hi, as the title suggests, what are the songs you play to test your speaker clarity and response ?? i need some more ideas to put my new ones through their paces ??

So far they have been performing brilliantly for the music i normally listen to, classical to rock to video game sound tracks.

But maybe you would like to list me your favorites that send the chills down your back when even you listen to it

cheers

 

[jamie2112]

There are so many things to listen to test speakers with.
Peter Garbriel SO
The song "Garden Of Allah"by Don Henley is really good
Motley Crue : Dr Feelgood will test your system
Fiona Apple: Criminal
Jen Van Meter: The Habit "on Itunes"
Deftones: Damone from Around the Fur
Just a few.....

 

[ParadigmDawg]

About anything from Spyro Gyra, Jack Johnson or David Sanborn.

 

[fredk]

You are so right jamie.

I posted a list of discs I had that I was familiar with and asked around for opinions about the quality of the recordings.
Peter Gabriel's Security (just love the percussion)
ELP's debut album for some pipe organ (found a japanese mastered disk)
Clapton Unplugged

Now that I have it I would add:

Les Voix Humaines, Folies (Baroque music for the Viola da Gamba)
I love the richly textured sound of this disk.

And for 5.1 duties: LOTR (mom, can I have a Balrog as a pet when I'm older?)

 

[Brian_the_King]

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is just excellent on good sound systems

 

[gus6464]

I use Laura Pausini (italian singer) to test female vocals and it's one of my main test materials. A lot of speakers I have heard have sounded very good with everything but only a select few have sounded very good with her.

 

[bandphan]

if you want extremely dynamic test, pm me and ill be more than happy to provide you with music that will "tell" your systems capibilities.

 

[3db]

Three pieces of music is all I need to test any speaker system. They are as follows;

1.) Violin Concerto in D by Tchaiskovsky
2.) Piano Concerto #5 by Beethoven
3.) Diana Krall


The 1st two pieces test the speakers ability to discern resolution among the instruments. Can you clearly pick out the sounds of the different instruments while the orchestra is in full boil. It also tests the speakers dynamics as well when the orchestra joins the solo instrument.

The 1st choice is a real acid test on midrange and tweeters. This piece on speakers that are overly bright will sound just irritating and ultimately fatiguing.

The 2nd piece tests how well the crossovers are designed. Pianos are so diffiuclt to reproduce and so easy to screw up on. What you are looking for is a smooth transition across the piano's audio spectrum, bass sound full and rich, mids and highs clear and smooth.

The 3rd piece tests out the midrange, especially vocals. If vocals (midrange where the human ear is the most sensitive) then the speaker will sound off.

 

[Jacksmyname]

Here are some that I use:

Andreas Vollenweider-White Winds
Sade-Sweetest Taboo
Flim And The BB's-Big Notes
Eagles-Hell Freezes Over

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Here are some that I use:

Andreas Vollenweider-White Winds
Sade-Sweetest Taboo
Flim And The BB's-Big Notes
Eagles-Hell Freezes Over

I second Vollenweider. I would also add Robert Rich-Seven Veils.

 

[snappy_snoopy]

Three pieces of music is all I need to test any speaker system. They are as follows;

1.) Violin Concerto in D by Tchaiskovsky
2.) Piano Concerto #5 by Beethoven
3.) Diana Krall


The 1st two pieces test the speakers ability to discern resolution among the instruments. Can you clearly pick out the sounds of the different instruments while the orchestra is in full boil. It also tests the speakers dynamics as well when the orchestra joins the solo instrument.

The 1st choice is a real acid test on midrange and tweeters. This piece on speakers that are overly bright will sound just irritating and ultimately fatiguing.

The 2nd piece tests how well the crossovers are designed. Pianos are so diffiuclt to reproduce and so easy to screw up on. What you are looking for is a smooth transition across the piano's audio spectrum, bass sound full and rich, mids and highs clear and smooth.

The 3rd piece tests out the midrange, especially vocals. If vocals (midrange where the human ear is the most sensitive) then the speaker will sound off.

thanks that is the exact answer i was hoping for, with a detailed explanation of what to look out for, thanks for putting in the effort, and that is not too say i dont appreciate the others replies but i needed something a little more in detail.

 

[PeterWhite]

1st choice: Brahms, Alto Rhapsody: Marilyn Horne,Telarc

2nd choice: Bach, Trio Sonata II in C Minor, BWV 526, Nimbus Records

3rd choice: Mozart, Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A little Nightmusic) Academy of Ancient Music, Hogwood, L'OISEAU-LYRE

4th choice: Dire Straights, Brothers In Arms

But better still, whatever you normally listen to, since, that's what you listen to.

 

[fredk]

Nice answer 3db. I must say, I wasn't quite that organized about my auditioning. The end result was good though.

 

[pzaur]

Here are some previous threads that are similar in nature:

Thread 1
Thread 2

For me:
Scythian Suite - Prokofiev - Chicago Symphony w/Abbado
Bach 2000 - German Brass
and some of the items listed earlier.

-pat

 

[snappy_snoopy]

will have a look at the other threads too, thanks for your input

 

[klix58]

will have a look at the other threads too, thanks for your input

A workout for a good system is "Reverend Horton Heat" track is "The Devils chasing Me"

 

[pyrrhusmj]

No Telarc disks?


For testing the limits: Telarc's Holywood's Greatest Hits 1&2, The Big Picture, Beethoven or Bust and Bachbusters.

Michael

 

[itschris]

Yeah Really!!!!!!

Telarc SPIES! Easily one of the best reference discs around. I never audition anything without it. I actually have 3 copies of the same disc, one still in shrink wrap.

There's a song called Barcelona by BJ John Smith. It's subtle in it's dynamics and there's a ton of nuance to pick up with really fine speakers. I highly recommend the disc.

No Telarc disks?


For testing the limits: Telarc's Holywood's Greatest Hits 1&2, The Big Picture, Beethoven or Bust and Bachbusters.

Michael

 

[Cavediver]

Bob Marley - Legend - Buffalo Soldier

 

[jamie2112]

Bob Marley - Legend - Buffalo Soldier

I love Bob as well but that disc is not a good enough sounding recording to test anything with. It has dips and peaks all over it. Not really dynamic enough in my opinion....