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My good friend and fellow audiophile Gerald k and I have made a compilation of music files which we feel are perfect for testing new equipment. We wanted to use music that we not only enjoy listening to but which also has the abillity to reveal flaws in the signal chain. I listen mostly on Headphones (Sennheiser/ Audeze/ Audio Technica) while Gerald listen only on speakers (Tad, Kharma/Linn/Naim). We have spend many an evening and several bottles of Cotes de Rhone wines arguing and eventually agreeing on this list of audio equipment test music. This is what we came up with, please feel free to comment or post alternatives, if possible with a link as to where to purchase the music that you feel is ideal for this purpose. We also looked for reviews that we felt agreed with what we hear in the recordings. Sound stage and definition 1. Carmen Gomes inc; '' I'm on fire'' from Thousand Shades of Blue Sound Liaison Music Shop Placement is perfect on this young audiophile classic as well as the near perfect natural recording of the voice, but the real test for audio equipment when listening to this recording is it's ability to separate the kickdrum from the upright bass. The two instruments are playing the same pattern. On less than optimum equipment it might be difficult to separate the two, but with good setup you clearly hear the upright at 10.00 and the kick dead center with a nice decay that one generally do not hear on commercial recordings. There are lots of speakers and headphones with ''extended lows'' but low with definition is a whole different ballgame. Hifi; 2 Alban berg Quartet; Bartok String Quartet no.1 in a minor 1th movement. (LP,EMI) in the beginning of this movement the 4 instruments all play mainly in the same middle and upper register. Despite all that mid and high information the music should not sound harsh. This recording has the same perfect sound stage as the Carmen Gomes recording. We believe that this kind of sound stage with such a sense of depth and realistic placement is only attainable when you are recording the musicians in one room at the same time. Amazone Intelligible representation 3. Frank Sinatra; ''What's New'' from Only the Lonely. Frank is maybe a bit too prominent represented but one should still be able to notice all the different lines played by the various instruments in this incredible Nelson Riddle arrangement. 4. Me'Shell Ndegéocello; ''Levictus:Faggot'' from Peace beyond Passion. Here we have the opposite, the voice is a bit too soft in this optimum funk piece yet you should still be able to hear every word. easily optainable http://www.amazon.com Depth and Space When talking about depth and space we had to include a couple of Reference Recordings tracks. This label has allways done justice to it's name and consistently produced recordings of very high quality. 5. The Concord Chamber Music Society;''Danza del Soul'' from Brubeck and Gandolfi works. 6. Doug Macleod '' the Night of the Devils Road'' from There's a Time here you have two completely different pieces of music, one by The Concord Chamber Music Society and one by blues legend Doug Macleod accompanied only by guitar and kick drum. But the depth and the space of these two recordings is simply outstanding. Enjoy the music.com; Audiophilia; Reference Recordings Complete Audiophile Classical Music Orchestra and Jazz HDCD Catalog 7. Andre Heuvelman; ''Oblivion'' from After Silence 8. Joni Mitchell; ''Comes Love'' from Both Sides Now Andre Heuvelman's rendition of Astor Piazzolla's master piece have a great sense of depth. Every instrument sounds rich and full with a gorgeus natural decay. On lesser equipment the sound of each instrument can become a bit of a blur while on good equipment the sound of each instrument should be clearly defined with a clear sense of the room this recording have been recorded in. Same goes for Joni's wonderfull standards collection, it is a big hall you are listening to. Sound Stage on the Sound Liaison recordings; Sound Liaison Music Shop Both Sides Now won a Separation 9. Miles Davis; ''Stella by Starlight'' from the Complete 1964 Concert 10. John Scofield; ''Just Don't Wan't to be Lonely'' from Uberjam Deux we use these recordings to check for spill between left and right channel. The Miles recording was done on a 3 track tape machine and therefore there is this very wide sound stage and separation between the instruments; piano complete left, horns and bass dead center, drums completely right. drummer Tony Williams sometimes does not play at all and on those moments all one should hear on the right channel of the piano is a faint echo. All Music; John Scofiel's cover of the old Main Ingredient hit has a complete left right separation. The organ is audible on the left channel only and the rhythm guitar is on the right. The separation is so extreme that if you were to disconnect the right channel you would not hear any rhythm guitar at all, just like on the early Beatles stereo LP's. Jazztimes; Imaging 11. Trevor Pinnock; Mahler symphony no. 4 this delicate chamber orchestra arrangement of the great Mahler Symphony is a real beauty. the all music review said; Linn Records - Mahler: Symphonie No. 4 12. Iona Brown and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra;''the Spring'' from Grieg two Elegiac Melodies. the Grammaphone review puts it well; http://http://www.naimlabel.com/recording-grieg--tippett--beethoven.aspx Batik; '' The Bird'' from the Old Man and the Sea just about perfect imaging, left to right evenly laid out for your eyes and ears to see, piano, bass, drums, guitar and again a one room recording. Unbelieveable why sofew companies do this when it can yield so very satisfactory results. http://http://www.soundliaison.com/ Audio Stream; John Scofield;'' Never Turn Back'' from Piety Street the drum intro has a small imperfection, there is a soft ringing sound on the left channel probably coused by a sympathic resonance in the drum set or in the room. The moment the organ enters it kind of cover up the problem, although if you really listen for it you can hear it through out the track. Wonderful old fashioned sound stage. All Music;

I am trying to build a hifi Headphone station for Roon streaming. This is an evolution of an earlier thread I started.... I was seeking too much in an all-in-one box and have decided to get a stand-alone tube headphone amp. I am looking for a Roon-Ready streamer/DAC to feed it. My IDEAL box would do precisely that, do it really well, and do nothing else. My research has turned up many Roon-Ready DACs, but almost all are bloated with many features I do not need (pre-amps, proprietary control software, etc). I don’t mind spending <=$2k, but I’d rather that go into a better DAC than into features I do not need. Suggestions?

I have been opening lot of blogs and everyone is recommending different kinds of headphones. This has resulted in lot of confusion. Can here anyone please suggest me best headphone to buy under 100 dollars? Not more than this. Thanks In Advance. https://crystalbreak.com/best-headphones-under-100/

I have a mid 2012 Macbook Pro, Mackie CR3's, Behringer HPX2000 and I'm just kinda happy. Mackies are connected to 3.5mm headphone output of Macbook Pro to the 1/4 TRS inputs of the Mackies. The Mackies have a 3.5mm aux output I can run the headphones on but when I plug them in the speakers shut off. I read that my laptop has 3.5mm/optical mini toslink output. How can I 100% find that out? I installed a programs called Mactracker and it said I had it but I followed some other instructions to check and it didn't show I do. In any event, without upgrading the Mackies I'd like to improve my all around sound quality and achieve deeper bass expecially when wearing the heaphones which aren't very load from the Mackies. I cloud try going straight to the Macbook with them but I don't want to be moving the cable a lot, the jack already seems loose. Please help, this is what I kinda have in mind, keep in mind I know nothing about all this stuff. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X238W58/?coliid=I3OM2SNSG0CQXA&colid=CC9E3PYS8XU9&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Greetings, Looking for a new headphone amp for a specific situation: drive a stand-alone headphone system in a home study. No loudspeakers. Roon-Ready streaming Tidal/Qobuz/NAS will be only source. Ideally, I could find a high-end, class A tube amp with balanced phone outs,...with DAC and streamer built-in. BUT, I prefer to not compromise amp or DAC quality in order to jam all functions into a single box. 2 components would be fine. Suggestions?

hi, i'm looking for hi-res headphones for listining to hip hop music. so looking for a good bass headphone.(but not too exaggerated bass). price max €360. it is for home use,i got a dac/amp. do you guys have recommendation?

Budget headphone time! I found this in a grocery store, and a very nice surprise it was. The review has the details, but in advance I'm thoroughly enjoying a sparkly sound with solid bass and a great soundstage. Bell'O BDH806 On-Ear Portable Stereo Headphone review

Here's my review of the Nighthawk, and this time in a nicely-formatted pasteup. I cover the solidly good points as well as any objections I found in other reviews. Audioquest Nighthawk Stereo Headphone – Audiophile Review

This is my third H6 - the first, in brown color, was reviewed prior to my having a measurement tool and was traded off. The second, the special edition in agave green, was reviewed at the beginning of my measurement experience and was traded off. This third H6, in black, got a good measurement shakedown this time and I expect to keep it permanently. Bang & Olufsen (B&O) Around-Ear Stereo Headphone review

Here's a headphone I got from Musical Fidelity direct. It's quite close to neutral, with a very slight mid-bass bump, color-free midrange, and smooth treble. It is on-ear however, it has low isolation, and a fairly strong headband clamp. If you're looking for really good sound in this price tier and are OK with these features, then I'd say highly recommended. As an aside, I've been told by a couple of users that some companies who are well-regarded for speakers and other components, who make headphones for the first time, often don't get involved in the design and end up putting their brand name on an inferior headphone. Not this time. Musical Fidelity MF-200 Audiophile Stereo Headphone review

The latest version of one of my all-time favorite headphones (v-moda M100, "King of Headphones") has returned as v-moda's second edition Bluetooth model, called (wait for it...) the Wireless 2. Simply stated, this is the best headphone they've ever made (in my opinion), playing with the same sound wireless or wired. The biggest change from the M100** besides Bluetooth is moving the strongest bass from slightly above 100 hz to below 100 hz, for much better impact and detail. The bass doesn't sound as strong as the M100, until you fire up some EDM and feel the difference. There are 2 versions with different Bluetooth codecs. **The Wireless-1 does not have the folding hinges, but the Wireless-2 does. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/community/threads/v-moda-wireless-2-bluetooth-aptx-stereo-headphone-review.4443/

The Studio3 was sitting there at the Apple Store, looking very tempting in its impressive "special edition" packaging, and I even got a 5-minute listen to the demo unit using my own iPhone. The demo sounded kinda thick - even a bit muffled, but the extra sweetening they added on the high end made it listenable. I've had a few Bluetooth headphones now, but not a Beats wireless, so I was curious what the potential of this headphone might be for quality listening, given that I'd re-tune it a little with my equalizer. The conclusions are in the review text, but one thing I can say up front is that while they get the middle frequencies about right through their ANC-plus-Bluetooth codecs, the extreme lows seem to have excess distortion. The extreme highs fare better, but I can't judge how much negative impact the DSP's have on those highs versus how much quality if any is lost in the basic design. One issue that popped into my head while writing this review is the so-called Loudness Wars. I wonder if the trend in many new headphones to have a recessed lower treble is actually compensation for the Loudness effect, to push the strong forward voices more to the background. Pure speculation there.... http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/community/threads/beats-studio-3-wireless-bluetooth-headphone-review.4516/

This is my first Grado 'woodie', excepting any Grado headphones where the wood parts are inside of the earcups only. I describe the sound compared to the SR325e, since I don't have a sense of how any of the Grado 'RS' series sound. This is a very good headphone, but be aware that some of the $650 USD price is because of the limited material from that Brooklyn tree. Grado GH1 'Brooklyn Tree' Wood-Cup Stereo Headphone review | Rock Grotto

My first triple-A-plus headphone - sound, build quality and aesthetics, and packaging. Say no more. Pryma by Sonus Faber 'Carbon Marsala' Stereo Headphone review

Here's a really nifty small IEM/earphone I got from First Harmonic, which sells for around $49 USD in the U.S. (not sure about anywhere else). Anyway -- nicely made, aluminum earpieces, 5 sets of eartips, clean and well-balanced sound, great value I think. First Harmonic IEB6 Earphone/IEM Ear-Canal Headphone review | Headphones Hangout Forum

I've reviewed IEM's before, ranking from "well worth consideration" to "among the very best". This v-moda Forza Metallo is in the latter category, and it's inexpensive (my favorite word). V-MODA Forza Metallo In-Ear (IEM) Stereo Earphone review | Headphones Hangout Forum

The new Apple Airpods sound about the same as the Lightning Earpods, but are Bluetooth. I don't know how many outer-ear Bluetooth earbuds are available today, but this is the first I've encountered. The bad news, if it's taken that way, is having the Earpod sound for $160 USD, albeit it's wireless. The good news, for those who have an equalizer, is that the EQ'd sound is as good as any other Bluetooth headphone that I've optimally EQ'd. But it gets better - much better for me at least. It's like wearing nothing - no headphone on the head, and no eartips in the ear canals. It's very stable, and in this review I describe an out-of-head sensation that I don't get with any of my headphones. Apple Airpods Outer-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds review | Headphones Hangout Forum

And here's the best of Edifier, in one sense anyway - though the H850 has a more classic neutral bass, both the H840 and H850 share an excellent midrange and treble. But should you prefer the warmer bass, say, half to 2/3 the strength of a v-moda M100, at 1/6 the price of the M100, here for your consideration is the H840: Edifier H840 Around-Ear Budget Audiophile Stereo Headphone review | Headphones Hangout Forum

I've been researching for a solid week and I've been finding a lot of conflicting information and need some help. I've been reading and some people say that as long as you dont hear any background noise from PC interference and your volumes are loud enough, you will not benefit from a DAC+Amp. Anything Above $2 Buys More Features, Not Better Quality - What Does It Take To Turn The PC Into A Hi-Fi Audio Platform? NwAvGuy: Headphone Amps/DACs Explained Right now I'm using my PC (Realtek ALC889 codec) to play FLAC files through my modded Fostex T50RP headphones and they sound great. The volume at 60% is comfortable to listen to for hours and these headphones are just the best headphones I've ever heard. There is no static or hissing that I can hear either. Since I've never listened to a high end pair of headphones through a DAC+Amp, I want to know if I can improve on the sound that I'm currently getting with my setup. So with my listening experience now (clear audio + comfortable volume @ 60% max volume) will I perceive any noticeable changes in sound if I buy a DAC + Amp? Will I hear things or experience sound differently so that I'd call the DAC+Amp a necessary upgrade? Thanks PS I was looking into the O2/ODAC if that matters

Taking a break from the very low-budget headphones and reviewing the Philips Fidelio X2 (which I missed in the initial intro), I was actually surprised at how good the X2 is. You'll appreciate the X2 if you've been using small plastic headphones like I've reviewed recently, even when you carefully EQ those small headphones, because Philips corrects the X2's resonances or other sonic anomalies with a much larger and better build, etc. I paid $199 at Massdrop, which is one heckuva deal. Philips X2 Around-Ear Open-Back Stereo Headphone review | Headphones Hangout Forum

I had this AIAIAI Tracks on my radar for a long time, so in this lull after the holidays, I decided to get it and shake it down. It's very bright, or more specifically, has a very large peak around 3 khz, which is the opposite of most small on-ear headphones these days. Still, the magic of Audioforge EQ turns the frog into a prince…. AIAIAI Tracks On-ear Stereo Headphone review

Here's a headphone I bypassed some time ago, not realizing how good is its physical quality, and potential sonic quality. While I wouldn't recommend the Major for hi-fi listening as-is, the EQ'd sound is hi-fi (not mid-fi), and I do recommend it EQ'd. And it's an excellent portable. Marshall Major On-Ear Stereo Headphone Review

Here's the Bose QC-25 - the most famous of the noise cancelers I think. And it's extremely good at canceling noise, with a couple minor caveats. From what I hear with this headphone, they managed to not only be the best at noise cancellation, but they produced a near-perfect audiophile signature at the same time. I can't say that all aspects of the sound quality are audiophile-grade, but listening to many very familiar music tracks, the details were present and the tone qualities seemed correct. The build quality is luxurious, and if the QC-25 proves to be durable, the $300 USD price tag seems like a good value. In the picture links I included, you'll be able to see the major differences between the Active mode and Passive mode signatures. Bose QC-25 Around-ear Noise Canceling Stereo Headphone review

Here is a headphone that I missed on the original release, but are now being closed out at amazing prices, in the U.S. at least. It's dark, it's bassy, and the details are in the review. I love how comfortable this is, in spite of using the standard earpads. From all I can see, the physical quality is the same as the pricy M100, although the tuning is decidedly different. I ordered from v-moda direct (although it was cheaper on Amazon), so I was able to customize the side earplates. V-MODA 'LP' Around-Ear (yet portable) Stereo Headphone review

Here's something really different. I avoided the first editions of "women's headphones", from Molami and Frends among others, because the aesthetics said no to me, but this one looked interesting for testing purposes at least, because of the more subtle design and the low price. The sound is rather treble-shy, but no more so than a lot of headphones in the $150 USD price range. Molami Plica ("designed for women") On-Ear Stereo Headphone review