Best tracks to test system

[StereoInstaller1]

Fim and the BB's, Big Notes.

Tricycle. Oh yeah!

James Newton Howard and friends -Sheffield labs.

and if you don't have The Drum & Track disk, get it. IMO, you really don't need much else.

http://www.amazon.com/Drum-Track-Sheffield/dp/B0000009FD

Maybe Jennifer Warnes singing "Bird on a Wire"

[quickervicar]

No other suggestions, Luke? I bought several albums on your previous recommendations. (1812 Overture by Cincinnati Symphony, Kodo drums, etc)

[Erik j]

Dead can dance might be a good one.

[StereoInstaller1]

No other suggestions, Luke? I bought several albums on your previous recommendations. (1812 Overture by Cincinnati Symphony, Kodo drums, etc)

My votes for "Best Of":

Best female vocal recording in history is on Sheffield Labs: Amanda McBroom: Growing Up in Hollywood Town

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LIMSXR001

Best male vocal (Blues/Jazz) Mighty Sam McClain: "Give it up to Love"

http://www.amazon.com/Give-Love-XRCD-Mighty-Mcclain/dp/B00004STMY/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_1

(note: I have not heard the XRCD version. I will find that one day!)

Best Classical (orchestral): Gustav Holst: The Planets, Zuben Mehta

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/music/0201/theplanets.htm

Best Modern (yuppie) Jazz: Lee Ritenour: Friendship (JVC Direct-to-Disk is un-freaking-believable)

Rock has to be the James Newton Howard listed above...all of this stuff is only MY opinion, but is often mirrored by the "audiophile" press.

And seriously, if you like solo Piano, you have GOT to have Suzanne Ciani: "Pianissimo"

You will note no opinion on Operatic stuff, Country (Merle Haggards "1994" (especially "Set My Chickens Free") is a fantastic recording of a genius) no "hard" rock, no "soft" classical, I am not gonna get into SQ debate on Reggae, world Beat, Soweto, Surf Rock (oh my fuck! Papa DooRonRon's "California Project" is a "rock" contender!), no opinion on dubstyle or about a billion other categories...sorry.

[harv]

On the bus by Frank Zappa.

Home at Last by Steely Dan

I love Led Zeppelin but the recordings suck.

John

[quickervicar]

I love Led Zeppelin but the recordings suck.

The remastered are a bit better, but I know how you feel. The recording ideas were brilliant, but the hi-fi aspect is not there. Try the remastered "Since I've Been Loving You" for some great drum sounds (stairwell mics, yet can still hear the kick pedal squeak) and guitar close-micing & distance.

[quickervicar]

Best Classical (orchestral): Gustav Holst: The Planets, Zuben Mehta
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...theplanets.htm

I WILL find this one! I love Holst

And seriously, if you like solo Piano, you have GOT to have Suzanne Ciani: "Pianissimo"

I do love piano. I toured the Steinway factory & almost cried when the Model D was played.

[Ray Smoodiver]

If you wanna destroy your subs, hunt down a Telarc recording of the 1812, the cannons go down to 18hz...

[quickervicar]

^^Yup! That's the one I got. Scared the poo out of me the first time they went off.

[StereoInstaller1]

If you wanna destroy your subs, hunt down a Telarc recording of the 1812, the cannons go down to 18hz...

You guys ever get the chance to see that on vinyl...held at arms length, you can see the cannon shots. I have seen tonearms hit dustcovers trying to play that nonsense!

[MikeM]

In da club - 50cent

- Im not a huge fan of the song but in the making of beats by dre headphones dre said they created them to fit this song