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Reference Recordings / Test Tracks
timjthomas:
What music do you use when "testing" a set of headphones? This list is not to be confused with "perfect recordings". These are tracks you use to test gear, which often means recordings which challenge transducers or upstream gear, or which have problem spots which can show you problems in gear/headphones. Perfect recordings test certain aspects of gear, but will only show you so much. Bad recordings can be just as useful for testing gear as great recordings.
note: Since this is a sticky, I have comandeered this part of this post to direct the thread. Original post below.
-RD
My list changes from time to time, but below is what I keep coming back to. (I can post links or pictures to specific versions I have, if there is a need.)
Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions / Trinity Sessions Revisited
Diana Krall - Live in Paris
Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Jim Hall - Concierto
Led Zeppelin - 4 Disk Box Set
LOTR - Fellowship of the Ring
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Pearl Jam - 10
Pink Floyd - DSOTM, Wish You Were Here, The Wall
Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company
Steely Dan - Gold
Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground
U2 - Achtung Baby (specifically Mysterious Ways)
As for classical, there are quite a few I use, but the main ones are:
Bach Cello Suites - Zuill Bailey
Bach Goldberg Variations - Murray Perahia
Brahms Violin Concerto - Anne-Sophie Mutter
Brahms Piano Concerto #2 - Fleisher & Szell
Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos - Hilary Hahn
Aside from the classical, I'm not sure how well all of the above are mastered. I'm sure that the CJ's Trinity Sessions (in fact all of the CJ stuff) as well as Clapton's Unplugged are very well mastered.'
Any thoughts on how well these are mastered?
-Tim
LFF:
Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions / Trinity Sessions Revisited - Great
Diana Krall - Live in Paris - Awesome
Eric Clapton - Unplugged - Near Perfect
Jim Hall - Concierto - ?
Led Zeppelin - 4 Disk Box Set - Bad
LOTR - Fellowship of the Ring - OK
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue - Depends which version
Pearl Jam - 10 - Bad
Pink Floyd - DSOTM, Wish You Were Here, The Wall - Depends which version
Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company - BAD
Steely Dan - Gold - depends which version
Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground - ?
U2 - Achtung Baby (specifically Mysterious Ways) - BAD
As for classical, there are quite a few I use, but the main ones are:
Bach Cello Suites - Zuill Bailey -?
Bach Goldberg Variations - Murray Perahia - OK
Brahms Violin Concerto - Anne-Sophie Mutter - OK
Brahms Piano Concerto #2 - Fleisher & Szell - OK
Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos - Hilary Hahn - ?
? = I haven't heard it.
timjthomas:
Here's an article about Jim Hall - Concierto: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=38650
Tord Gustavsen Trio is minimalist jazz trio. The Ground is probably their most "widely" known album.
I heard about Zuill Bailey's recording of Bach's Cello Suites on NPR. I have several versions of the Bach Cello Suites -- some I like better -- but this is very well recorded.
Hahn's recording of Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos is almost "syrupy", but it seems to work (for me at least.)
I can provide samples of any of these if you'd like to give them a listen.
Updated
Luis: I hadn't realized that you had commented on each of the recordings, noting that some were "BAD."
Led Zeppelin - 4 Disk Box Set - Bad - I much prefer the LPs I have of Zeppelin and usually listen to those. I've been meaning to pick up a "good" version on CD. Just not sure which ones to get.
Pearl Jam - 10 - Bad - I figured as much. I just like the raw emotion of the recording :)
Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company - BAD - I've read this. Are all of the tracks poor? I'll have to listen more carefully to ths one.
U2 - Achtung Baby (specifically Mysterious Ways) - BAD. Not surprising. I like they Mysterious Ways. It's a "fun song."
Pink Floyd & Miles Davis - I'll have to check which versions I have. Do you have a particular recommendation?
Steel Dan - Gold - I have the expanded edition: http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Steely-Dan/dp/B000002OHR/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1323111435&sr=1-1
Thanks,
-Tim
timjthomas:
So what single recording or two is your reference recording -- the one you use to evaluate headphones, speakers, etc.? Why that recording? What do you listen for?
victor25:
Elton John - Bitter Fingers
John Mayer - Who Says
a recording I have of the Emperor Concerto (Beethoven's 5th piano concerto)
Sometime's recording's I made myself
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