I would like to buy some CD's that have good dynamic range to test my audio system with.
It doesn't matter what style of music (jazz, pop, rock, rap...) as long as the recording is well made. Please list the CD's full album name so, I can purchase it and not just the name of the song. I know this subject has come up before but, I'd like full CD's and not just individual songs. Thanks for your help.
Ultimately, it is up to YOU to determine what YOU like best and what YOU are most familiar with. In order to be a good "test" it has to be something you can compare to. So that means you must be familiar with this material on an equally familiar high quality system in order to compare.
You of course want to use high quality recordings and as you've probably read in the other threads, these are usually analog recordings from the 80's. But if you aren't fussy about what kind of music and you just want some high quality recordings to show off a system, then I suggest you go to Telarc Records. They specialize in high end esoteric recording techniques and have a good size catalog of extremely excellent recordings. But again, if you want to "compare", you should use familiar material. The difference is whether you want to "test" or "show off".
Nightwish, particularly the Century Child album. You can find it at Dimple Records usually. It's sort of metal-opera. The Phantom of the Opera track on it is usually what I use. Deep bass, electric guitar, male and female vocals.
But it doesnt do much good if you aren't familiar with how a recording should sound. Do you have some great head phones you can use to get familiar with the music first? Or a good home system.
I also like Classical Gas just for instrumental stuff.
I do have an old IASCA disc somewhere, if you want to check it out during my lunch break some time, since I'm close by.
I use a CD that I "mastered" from an old Laurence welk 8 track. Makes my Bose C6 system sound just as good as it did on day 1! Really tests teh dynamic range of those Bose amps!
My CD collection consists mainly of old school 80's music (Earth, Wind & Fire, Van Halen, Michael Jackson, ConFunkShun, Beastie boys etc...).
I'm getting tired of listening to the same old stuff and would like to broaden my music. I like most any style of music as long as it's recorded well (not MP3).
I usually test my audio systems with EWF (Vocals), Van Halen (Instumentals) and the Beastie Boys (Bass).
Kale, thanks for the offer. Let me know where to meet you and I'll be there. I'd like to hear your system! I have Fridays off.
Next friday should be good. I need to burn a new copy of the CD, I think I lost the original. But I backed it up. It has some cool phase and image tests.
I use Mp3 for everything. A/B with CD on high end speakers, I cant tell the difference at 256.
For a flat out test, I use the Ultimate Test CD by Moss Music Group. It has a bunch of tracks 20Hz to 20kHz, pink noise, and a nice sweep right and left so you can see if everything is hooked up right and has smooth transitions. For music I go with Dire Straits-Brothers In Arms.
GKK my sugg for cd's to try out, Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbrake,
Lucero - Nobody's Darlings, No Doubt - Rock Steady, Ol' Yeller - Ol' Yeller The Saw Doctors - Sing A Powerful Song, Split Lip Rayfield - Never Make It Home, Sublime - Sublime, Vic Chesnutt - Drunk, Brute - Nine High a pallet, Omar And The Howlers - Muddy Springs Road, Hank Williams III - Lovesick Broke and Driftin', Eric Sardinas - Black Pearls, Drive-By Truckers - Alabama a$$ Whuppin', Concrete Blonde - Recollection, The Cranberries - Bury the Hatchet. This is a good mix of voical and music styles, I have an extensive music collection and like a lot of different music. I just listed some of my personal favorites.
Rammstein is also good if you want clean, decently recorded music. It's a German industrial/metal band. Any of their CDs are good. I think Rosenrot sounds the best.
Corvette Store
What are some good test CD's?
Really tests teh dynamic range of those Bose amps!
