Music for testing Audio Equipment

[Rexp]

Does it make you smile test:

https://tidal.com/track/124693314

 

[blue2]

On 9/24/2020 at 7:40 PM, PAP said:

Is the Hotels & Dreamers by Allan Taylor album only available in 16bit?

No Qobuz has it in "High Res" but in this case it's only 24/44

[jiminlogansquare]

Here's one surprising way to test bass response and room mode issues, transient response, detail (i.e., because those multiple marimba pieces recorded in a big, resonant church can really turn to mush if the reproducing setup is not highly resolving enough) ... and imaging, too. One track was originally recorded for surround, so maybe remove that one from the "imaging" column if listening in two-channel stereo, as I did streaming on Qobuz. And, the performances are virtuosic and enjoyable regardless.

 

[rando]

I lost(!) a copy of the Van Den Hul Carbon Recordings Marimba album.  It was pretty fantastic.

[christian u]

On 5/24/2020 at 11:36 AM, mevdinc said:

I also listen to 'There's A Time' a lot, a great sounding album.
 

https://tidal.com/browse/album/45715806

One of my all time favorite albums, music and sq is in perfect harmony.

[blue2]

Here's another album with very nice SQ - Down the Way by Angus & Julia Stone.  Only £4.99 at Qobuz for the RBCD version

[christian u]

The new Carmen Gomes DXD bespoken in Joe Whips fine article; https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/sound-liaison-one-mic-recording-r957/

 

should be mentioned here, if not for the music and the excellent SQ then at least for the 27hz low bass note opening the album.

Talking about bottom!

This is what I wrote about the RedBook CD version I bought from Carmen's CARMEN GOMES BANDCAMP site. (DXD and other formats are now available from SOUND LIAISON  site.

 

Quote

Got the CD this weekend and listened last night. What a trip. Finally a band that dares to make a concept album.

I am big Robert Johnson fan and have all the covers of his songs made from the likes of Elmore James and Eric Clapton to the Rolling Stones and what have you, but Carmen Gomes Inc takes first place in my top 10, why? They have made the songs their own. In no way do they try emulate Robert Johnson, instead they seem to have looked at each song and explored the song it self, so not Robert Johnson the artist but Robert Johnson the composer. So refreshing. 

[PAP]

Talking about the 27.5 hz bass tone. It is interesting what engineer Frans de Rond writes as answer to Joe Whips question about mic setup; Joe Whip's review

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We wanted the small 'sound scape' compositions to have a very dark atmosphere, (Peter said he wanted them sounding as dark as the Mississippi night) so I decided to add a spaced pair of Josephson C617 microphones up very high in the studio and let them be our main source of ambience. I think that worked very well. And also the deep drop tuned low 'A' of 27.5 Hz from the double bass got picked up very well by that pair. Such a low note is almost impossible to hear close up, somehow you only hear the upper harmonics generated, so that was an extra benefit of the ambient pair. And it made me fall even more in love with the sound of studio 2.

[PAP]

 If I may quote Joe Whip again;

Quote

One more word about the drums. Far too many recording engineers pan the drums across the soundstage, giving an unnatural size to the drums. Not here. The drums are focused in the sound field and sound like a drum kit does live. I wish this was the case in more jazz recordings.  Sound Liaison One Mic + Recording

They used to do it right. Listen here how much space there is for the bass and the sax. Piano left, drums right sax and bass right down the middle.

[christian u]

Yes and what a lovely recording. D. Gordon was one of the great balladeers.

[christian u]

And that's why we have to keep supporting the small independents like Reference Recordings , Native DSD  and SOUND LIAISON

 

Those companies still care about those kind of 'minor'  details.

 

 

[PAP]

Don't forget TRPTK, very well recorded albums as well.

[Rexp]

12 hours ago, PAP said:

Don't forget TRPTK, very well recorded albums as well.

Are there particular tracks we can use to test our audio systems and what should we be hearing if our system is doing a good job? 

[christian u]

On 12/4/2020 at 1:09 AM, Rexp said:

Are there particular tracks we can use to test our audio systems and what should we be hearing if our system is doing a good job? 

To quote Joe Whip;

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The drums to the left, Carmen in the middle in front of the instruments and the bass just to the right of her and the guitar to the right side of the soundstage. The sound is totally three dimensional. You almost feel like you can reach out and touch everyone. The sound is totally open with natural decay and depth.

 

Quote

Pace, rhythm, tone and soundstage are just off the charts. The precise placement of all four of the musicians perfectly matches the photos of the sessions. The balance of all four instruments is darn near perfect. As you can no doubt tell, I am a huge fan of this recording. It is one of the best in terms of recording quality I have ever heard.

 

 

 

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Dynamics, tone, timbre and soundstage are all superb. The piano in particular is a highlight for me. This is some of the best recorded piano I have ever heard, capturing to tone of the instrument and the natural decay of the notes. Instrument placement in the sound field is spot on.

Quote

This recording captures the richness of the piano and the natural room reverberation. It sounds just like a piano is sitting in the room in front of you. What more can you really want from a recording?

 

 

[mevdinc]

Here's an old favourite I enjoy listening to from time to time.
Great recording with great music and musicians.

Dance Of Fire, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh


 

[PAP]

On 12/12/2020 at 1:26 PM, mevdinc said:

Here's an old favourite I enjoy listening to from time to time.
Great recording with great music and musicians.

Dance Of Fire, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh

Quite a line up; Stanley Clarke and Omar Hakim.....Return to Forever and Weather Report rhythm section with Miles Davis saxophonist Bill Evans.

[botrytis]

A great live tack is: Christian McBride Trio: Live at Village Vanguard - Track 3 Interlude is awesome.

[mevdinc]

Here's an album I listen to quite often. Great bass, vocals and sound stage.
In fact, I used the tracks 3, 5 and 6 to demo speakers in late 90s.

 

Turn up the vlume for best results. :)

 

Illicite by Jacques Higelin

https://open.qobuz.com/album/yldmrk3neqtic

 

[PAP]

On 12/18/2020 at 6:02 PM, botrytis said:

A great live tack is: Christian McBride Trio: Live at Village Vanguard - Track 3 Interlude is awesome.

 

What is so interesting with all live at the vanguard albums is that you always hear the sound of the club. It's maybe not a great sounding hall, sounds more like a big living room, but heck it is the Village Vanguard! And that's how that club sounds.

[mevdinc]

Here's another old favourite I have been listening to quite a lot lately.

Great selection of music, well played and recorded.



https://open.qobuz.com/album/xq2nag54yarta

[FredericV]

Julieta soundtrack, the 'Silencio' track:

Track 13, which is 16 bit on Tidal (not yes master "MQA-CD" quacked) and 24 bit on Qobuz:

https://www.qobuz.com/ie-en/album/julieta-banda-sonora-original-alberto-iglesias/8436560842262
 

Real hi-res version also playable via LMS 8 and Roon ;)

[PAP]

On 12/22/2020 at 2:22 PM, FredericV said:

Julieta soundtrack, the 'Silencio' track:

Track 13, which is 16 bit on Tidal (not yes master "MQA-CD" quacked) and 24 bit on Qobuz:

https://www.qobuz.com/ie-en/album/julieta-banda-sonora-original-alberto-iglesias/8436560842262
 

Real hi-res version also playable via LMS 8 and Roon ;)

Very nice and well recorded! I'm going to get me some. Thanks!

[FredericV]

For choir, this one is great, and it's the season for these kind of tracks:


Tidal:

1. Carol of the Bells (Choral)
Carol of the Bells
Carol of the Bells (2014)
670kbps VBR, flc
 

Qobuz:

Carol of the Bells
Carol of the Bells
Carol of the Bells
672kbps, flc

We actually use the first track a lot.

And then as a variation of this well know song:

Katie Melua-The Little Swallow-SMR
 

 

[christian u]

On 12/5/2020 at 10:56 AM, christian u said:

To quote Joe Whip;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sound Liaison engineer Frans de Rond has won the Prix Europe for his engineering work on a radio play.

The jury found the sound highly appealing.  for many of us here that comes as no surprise.

[PAP]

On 1/4/2021 at 2:40 PM, christian u said:

Sound Liaison engineer Frans de Rond has won the Prix Europe for his engineering work on a radio play.

The jury found the sound highly appealing.  for many of us here that comes as no surprise.

Yes I saw it. I posted it on Joe's Thread;  article-sound-liaison-one-mic-recording