Your favourite track for demonstrating your hi-fi?
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: God's promised land
Posts: 80,907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You know the one, the song you play to everybody who will sit still long enough to listen to your system. Let's have a list of songs that bring out the best in a hi-fi.
I have a few i could mention, but i'll kick off with "Money Can't Buy It" by Annie Lennox, from the album "Diva". If your system's got bass, this will shake the foundations of your house!
Any others?
(Anything by Dire Straits will be ignored immediately, fyi. )
I have a few i could mention, but i'll kick off with "Money Can't Buy It" by Annie Lennox, from the album "Diva". If your system's got bass, this will shake the foundations of your house!
Any others?
(Anything by Dire Straits will be ignored immediately, fyi. )
#7
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Posts: 4,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I quite like man in the long black coat from Bob Dylan's 1989 album Oh Mercy
The quality of the recording is good, with wonderfully atmospheric production by Daniel Lanois. It's not overly complecated, but a good source will reveal the sound of Dylan's fingers moving across the fret board, as well as a load of background swamp type noises. must find it for a quick blast.
oh and of course money for nothing
as frank zappa once said: they're pretty good musicians, they're pretty good musicians....
[Edited by ProperCharlie - 12/24/2003 9:45:35 AM]
The quality of the recording is good, with wonderfully atmospheric production by Daniel Lanois. It's not overly complecated, but a good source will reveal the sound of Dylan's fingers moving across the fret board, as well as a load of background swamp type noises. must find it for a quick blast.
oh and of course money for nothing
as frank zappa once said: they're pretty good musicians, they're pretty good musicians....
[Edited by ProperCharlie - 12/24/2003 9:45:35 AM]
Trending Topics
#8
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: Scoobysport, Basildon, UK
Posts: 4,300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its one of my all time favourite tracks anyway, but an "industry standard" track is Brazilian Love Affair by George Duke.
If you can play it and not think of a warm tropical beach then there's no hope for you.
If you can play it and not think of a warm tropical beach then there's no hope for you.
#10
I always went for "Private Investigations" by Dire Straits. Although some of the tracks on the last album (On Every Street) are good "demonstrators" and recorded even better. Failing that, if it's bass demonstration that you want, Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" is impressive. The Clapton unplugged album too.
[Edited by carl - 12/24/2003 9:49:06 AM]
[Edited by carl - 12/24/2003 9:49:06 AM]
#13
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Posts: 4,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TB - giving that Annie Lennox track a spin at the moment. sounds clean enough but no really deep bass as far as i can hear
maybe I should have bought that REL sub after all?
maybe I should have bought that REL sub after all?
#14
Sorry Tel, but "In the Gallery" from the remastered version of Dire Strait's first album is wicked -- great natural-sounding recording.
For me it's these:
- Original / Leftfield (from Leftism). Awesome bass.
- Biting my nails (Bassnumb chapter) / Renegade Soundwave. Makes yer ears bleed.
- The Bends (the track itself) / Radiohead
- Pull up to the bumper / Grace Jones
- Kaya / Bob Marley. Still sounds fantastic.
Edited to add: one of the best recordings ever for sheer subsonic bass is "A Message to You, Rudy" by the Specials. Not a good production but the bass is thunderous through a good sub
[Edited by brickboy - 12/24/2003 10:09:15 AM]
For me it's these:
- Original / Leftfield (from Leftism). Awesome bass.
- Biting my nails (Bassnumb chapter) / Renegade Soundwave. Makes yer ears bleed.
- The Bends (the track itself) / Radiohead
- Pull up to the bumper / Grace Jones
- Kaya / Bob Marley. Still sounds fantastic.
Edited to add: one of the best recordings ever for sheer subsonic bass is "A Message to You, Rudy" by the Specials. Not a good production but the bass is thunderous through a good sub
[Edited by brickboy - 12/24/2003 10:09:15 AM]
#15
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: God's promised land
Posts: 80,907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PC, it's one of those tracks which either kicks *** on your system or doesn't, therefore in my opinion it's a great tester. If you're not getting HOOOGE bass at the beginning, your system isn't giving you full range. The track after, "Little Bird", is similar.
LOL, i *knew* people would come out with Dire Straits. It's weird, whenever i've asked people what they want me to play, it's amazing how many's first answer is Dire Bloody Straits!! Don't get me wrong, they've made some fantastic music, but i'm not convinced ant of it is really hi-fi challenging.
My next offering is "Vogue" by Madonna. A fantastic example of quadraphonic imagery - how they got the effect onto a CD is beyond me!
LOL, i *knew* people would come out with Dire Straits. It's weird, whenever i've asked people what they want me to play, it's amazing how many's first answer is Dire Bloody Straits!! Don't get me wrong, they've made some fantastic music, but i'm not convinced ant of it is really hi-fi challenging.
My next offering is "Vogue" by Madonna. A fantastic example of quadraphonic imagery - how they got the effect onto a CD is beyond me!
#16
Forgot to add William Orbit's projects, Bass-o-matic and the Strange Cargo III CD.
These are awesome at the bottom end, too, but with fantastic detail and imaging.
But remember kids -- listen to the music, not the hi-fi
These are awesome at the bottom end, too, but with fantastic detail and imaging.
But remember kids -- listen to the music, not the hi-fi
#17
but i'm not convinced ant of it is really hi-fi challenging
#18
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: God's promised land
Posts: 80,907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Carl, but isn't that just because of the suddenness and loudness of those drumrolls, rather than their ability to make a system do anything out of the ordinary? That's my take on it. Good song though.
#19
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Posts: 4,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i can't remember what the bottom end roll off of the CL70s is. one of the reasons i chose them was that the bass is very quick - i realise it's not the deepest, though. i did listen to them with a sub, too. it added a bit i didn't buy it and there isn't enough room in here to justify it. when i build the extension i'll get one...
next track for me:
Artur Rubenstein playing Chopin's Opus 9 - No. 1 in B-Flat Minor.
[Edited by ProperCharlie - 12/24/2003 10:26:15 AM]
next track for me:
Artur Rubenstein playing Chopin's Opus 9 - No. 1 in B-Flat Minor.
[Edited by ProperCharlie - 12/24/2003 10:26:15 AM]
#22
Scooby Regular
Too many to list
I know of a few well known bands use IGY by Donald Fagen to sound check their rig ready for gigs
In the studio I used to use one of Fishes Albums & Sarah Maclachlan to set a reference for mixdowns, as the production on these albums are very good
I know of a few well known bands use IGY by Donald Fagen to sound check their rig ready for gigs
In the studio I used to use one of Fishes Albums & Sarah Maclachlan to set a reference for mixdowns, as the production on these albums are very good
#23
Carl, but isn't that just because of the suddenness and loudness of those drumrolls, rather than their ability to make a system do anything out of the ordinary
#27
The pressing of Jeff Buckley's Grace on 180gm vinyl is superb. Most of the tracks are good for demoing a system but I really like Grace, Last Goodbye, Hallelujah and Lover...
Other great tracks for flexing my system are:
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
Roots Manuva - Strange Behaviour
Laurent Garnier/Shazz - Acid Eiffel
Rage Against the Machine - Know Your Enemy/Wake Up
Craig Armstron - Balcony Scene (Romeo & Juliet), Rise
Other great tracks for flexing my system are:
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
Roots Manuva - Strange Behaviour
Laurent Garnier/Shazz - Acid Eiffel
Rage Against the Machine - Know Your Enemy/Wake Up
Craig Armstron - Balcony Scene (Romeo & Juliet), Rise
#29
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Arborfield, Berkshire
Posts: 12,387
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One of the best tunes Ive ever listened too is the Last of the Mohicans main theme (orchestral). 1st track on the OST. Makes the hairs on your arms stand on end. A short track but excellent, really shows a decent hifi off.
Simon.
Simon.
#30
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Lots of different places! (Thank you Mr. Lambert)
Posts: 3,037
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T-Bone Burnett - Proof Through the Night 1983 (Vinyl)
The drums on the last track really let you know if your system works. Shut your eyes and listen - if they sound like real drums you're home and dry - if not it's upgrade time again.
As for Dire Straits - sorry, but I really can't understand anyone using their latter recordings (Love over Gold onwards) to test their systems. They sound like they were produced solely to make CD sound good on cheap systems and don't sound anything like anything a real band do when you hear them live as anyone who as actually seen Dire Straits in concert will tell you.
Regards,
tiggers.
The drums on the last track really let you know if your system works. Shut your eyes and listen - if they sound like real drums you're home and dry - if not it's upgrade time again.
As for Dire Straits - sorry, but I really can't understand anyone using their latter recordings (Love over Gold onwards) to test their systems. They sound like they were produced solely to make CD sound good on cheap systems and don't sound anything like anything a real band do when you hear them live as anyone who as actually seen Dire Straits in concert will tell you.
Regards,
tiggers.