Your reference library

Silver Member

Username: Stryvn

Post Number: 357
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 09:11 am:

When you go to audition audio equipment, what titles are you bringing with you? More importantly, why is this your reference? Not just, "I really like Hotel California"....What exactly is it about your reference that does it? What do you hear there that makes this the recording that tells you if those speaks (or amp or cdp or whatever) sound right? Or if those speaks are positioned just right in your listening room? Is there a particular spot or instrument in a track that tells you if the equipment is doing what it’s supposed to or is it the whole of the track? Is it between 2:34 and 2:37 of track 4 on cd X that you hear what you’re looking for? How often is stuff moving in and out of “the library”?

What moves you?? I’m interested in your stories and opinions.

Relevant Product Info

Silver Member

Username: Mike3

Wiley, Tx
USA

Post Number: 586
Registered: May-06

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 01:50 pm:

stryvn,

Well right now having this thread moves me. I really appreciate the way you set this up.

I am hopeful that a lot of us can gain a lot of useful and insightful information from each other and perhaps find some recordings we just must go out and get.

Silver Member

Username: Stryvn

Post Number: 358
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 04:02 pm:

Mike,
I know there's some very qualified ears here. I'm interested in what they're listening to and why. I'm quite certain I could learn a lot from what they're hearing. Hopefully others find it useful as well. Your interest in it is encouraging. Thanks

Silver Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Canada

Post Number: 106
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 05:14 pm:

Excellent thread Stryvn. I can learn a lot from this. I'm not really educated on what should be considered Reference material. I do know that if I am going to audition something, I have to bring music that I listen to and that I enjoy. I know something classical from the 60's is going to sound much better then stuff I listen to(Hard Rock), but whats the point if I am never going to listen to that kind of music on my system. I hate Rap, HATE country, HATE pop music. I want Rock, Rock and more Rock.lol.

Bronze Member

Username: Kevincorr

Fairbanks, Alaska
Usa

Post Number: 77
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 09:03 pm:

A favorite Ray Brown trio/quartet. Rays bass and a great piano (Oscar P, Monty Alexander, Gene Harris) really seperates the good equipment.
For guitar combination acoustic/electric and vocal Prine.
More vocal Patricia Barber. Live is a high quality well recorded cd.
Well anything on ECM sounds great and exposes clarity.

Silver Member

Username: Mike3

Wiley, Tx
USA

Post Number: 591
Registered: May-06

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 10:31 pm:

I just picked up a Patricia Barber on vinyl. It is both studio and live. It will be swapped into my reference library as it is so exact, so quiet. The live sounds as better in quality than most studio recordings. I only listened to it once and sent it to Jan to spin. I will never over use a record of this quality but as I continue to listen to it I will find the points of interest to dial into when evaluating any changes to my system.

I will follow later this week with my #1 reference, both vinyl and CD, Pink Floyd's Animals 3rd track, Pigs. I am drafting it now.

A.V.

Silver Member

Username: Sun_king

UK

Post Number: 400
Registered: Mar-04

Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 12:42 am:

A selection of music for demoing equipment should first and foremost be music you know inside out. So what other people listen to is pointless IMO, other than out of curiosity. A piece of music you have heard hundreds of times on any number of different bits of kit is the most useful aid when demoing new kit. I choose five tracks; one that has deep bass, another with fast bass, one that's well produced, another that's badly produced and finally an acoustic track. I'll choose the songs I use on the day, I wouldn't bore myself by using the same five every single time I audition kit. The one constant however is as I said, that I know these songs inside out.

Bronze Member

Username: Kevincorr

Fairbanks, Alaska
Usa

Post Number: 78
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 02:56 am:

AV: Yes exactly.
Although a recent album that I have been listening to a lot lately doesn't have the advantage of many kits, a good point, it is fresh on my mind. Especially when I find one that seems to be very well recorded. In the case of Patricia Barber Live, A Fortnight in France, which as Michael W points out is better sounding than most studio recordings. How can that be? Are we talking the same cd on Blue Note?
Which LP is both live and studio? I have no Barber on vinyl.
I have seen Patricia live twice. Most recently at very good venue.
I never thought to use a badly produced track?

Bronze Member

Username: Skeeterhead

Post Number: 63
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 08:07 am:

For mid-range and vocal evaluation: You Won't Forget Me CD by Shirley Horn. Exceptional recording of voice and piano. On a decent system, you can close your eyes and you are there.

A.V.

Silver Member

Username: Sun_king

UK

Post Number: 401
Registered: Mar-04

Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 08:11 pm:

Kevin, some systems make badly produced tracks unlistenable. I don't want a system, however 'detailed', that makes me unable to play certain recordings. Mismatching speakers to the wrong amp and front end usually causes this problem. Properly produced music will sound good on even the cheapest kit. It will sound out of this world on good kit but what about the rest of your collection? It needs to be able to cope with that too. Don't only take superb recordings along to the demo.

Nuck

Gold Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 8129
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 09:39 pm:

However, this being the reference music thread, it is presumed that your selections are the very best for you.

Silver Member

Username: Mike3

Wiley, Tx
USA

Post Number: 593
Registered: May-06

Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 10:10 pm:

Pink Floyd – Animals – Track 3 or 1st song “B” Side – Pigs

The opening has a string echo fade off (exit stage left and back) at about 00:08; I keep listening to see if there will be a seventh echo. I listen to the depth of the pigs “grunts” and each of the acoustic guitar strums. Then I listen to the drums kick in at 01:07 for the timing and pace. This all gives me a sense about how “on” I have things dialed in with speaker placement, seat position, ICs, and Speaker wire. If everything is dialed in this is also useful for when swapping in and out. I will call this my “Definition Test”.

There is a percussion instrument, in the background, left of center, slightly elevated, sometimes it sounds like someone striking a drum stick on a steel tube railing, other times it sounds like a wood block. It shows up at 01:49. I use this to evaluate if what I have done has muddied up my sound, over tightened it, or left me the “naturalness” I am looking for.

At 3:22 I listen closely to the “radiate cold shafts of broken glass” to pick up the nth level of detail or see if it just doesn’t sound like shards of glass falling. Usually it doesn’t. It did with scotch one night.

At 03:47, there is a “click” of drum sticks followed 9 seconds later by a piano sweep into drum roll. I listen for where the piano starts (near inside of left speake), and stops (about center of sound stage), and the separation of it from the drum roll as well as how far back the drum roll is in the sound stage and how far right it carries. There is another one much later in the track with different emphasis. This helps me in identifying isolation of instruments as well as sound stage. I cannot say accuracy as it can be different, subtle or significantly, based upon what changes I am making and I have no point of reference for what exactly right should sound like.

There is a guitar rhythm loop which at times can be painful in pitch, other times it is mellow and fills in nicely. I notice it around 4:13. I use this too for finding the “naturalness” of my sound. I guess it is sounding very natural lately as I had trouble finding this one.

Finally at 08:46, I listen for the background vocal that only showed up after significant tweaking. I listen to see if they are clearer or more articulate. This gives me an excuse to listen to the whole song as most of my reference work is done at about the 4 minute mark with this track and often times at the 1:07 mark if I am looking for just one thing. I do this with both CD and vinyl, probably ruining my Japanese import in the process.

Bronze Member

Username: Skeeterhead

Post Number: 66
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 08:29 am:

I'm sorry to have to say this but AV's advice is absurd. While he is certainly entitled to his bias, suggesting that someone take poor recordings for serious auditioning is like suggesting one take that 1970 Ford Pinto to qualify for a NASCAR race.

Nuck

Gold Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 8136
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 04:49 pm:

This is the reference listening thread, we are dealing with the best of the best in your catalogue and experience. Don't let it get off track, gentlemen.

Nuck

Gold Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 8138
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 06:18 pm:

I have held off for lack of being next to my stereo. This thread needs particular attention, and a short review of the tracks/albums would best serve the purpose.
However, I just reviewed this particular song on the puter, and everything it brings back to my mind is how good it sounds at home.
Rush;subdivisions.
Subdivisions entails everything that this trio does so well, and how well such a complicated piece of music can be portrayed so well.
In particular, the bass and drums can be heard(and felt) in seperate corners of my room, with absolute distinction, resolution and timing.
The snare is relentless, in time and resolve, driving the song into keyboard(played by feet) and soaring guitar to boot.
This track, from 'Signals' is a very difficult one to reproduce in proper time, and the recording is up to the task.
Fantastic timing, superb drumming from my hero, demanding drive and pace.
Can you play it properly?

Note: Later on the album, 'The analog kid' is a test of coherence not to be missed. Try to keep up!

Silver Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Canada

Post Number: 111
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 08:26 pm:

Nuck, are your sure you don't write reviews for Audio equipment?lol that was well said. I feel that being the young feller hanging around in the audio forum's, that none of my music would be considered Reference music. I do listen to some old Rock such as Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton though. Perhaps my GF's music is considered more Reference material. Gwen Stephani anybody?lol

Silver Member

Username: Stryvn

Post Number: 361
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 11:10 pm:

Mike...that's a great review. Tomorrow night I will sit down with a printout of your writeup and give a listen. I will say on my last listen to Pigs on my gear I was somewhat disappointed with the overall presentation. And I actually thought it was due to the format (cd). It seemed a bit shallow in soundstage. I remember my Animals album on vinyl from way back. BUT, having said that, my room leaves a lot to be desired and my speakers are not where they should be! I should have an opportunity to do something about that tomorrow night. You hit the nail on the head with the purpose of the thread, tho! I now have something to zero in on.

Nuck,
Subdivisions is one of my favorite Rush tracks! I do not, however, currently own it on cd. And being that I am without TT, I can't figure out how to get my vinyl into the 1072. I think I will be making a trip to the store tomorrow to pick this one up...I think that album (at least a few of the tracks) could find it's way into the "reference" category.

Nick- Nuck knows a thing or two about timing and pace and which player will deliver!

Anybody else wanna chime in?. I think we're starting to scrape the surface. I know there's some pretty good ears out there!

Silver Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Canada

Post Number: 112
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 11:26 pm:

Stryvn-Indeed he does. My comment was a compliment to him. I look forward to your list.

Jan Vigne

Platinum Member

Username: Jan_b_vigne

Dallas, TX

Post Number: 10965
Registered: May-04

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 11:29 pm:

.

"I do listen to some old Rock such as Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton though."

A thin wimper is heard from the side of the room where the walker stands.

.

A.V.

Silver Member

Username: Sun_king

UK

Post Number: 402
Registered: Mar-04

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 11:59 pm:

Dennis, I stated that I take one of my poorer recordings along to demos (as well as other good stuff) - that doesn't mean that I dust off an old 78 record and take that along! I have plenty in my collection, stuff I play heaps, that I consider to be poorly recorded. As I said earlier, a well recorded album played on ANY system will sound good so surely that's not all we've got to test, right? I don't want to buy a piece of kit that will render 1/3 of my collection unlistenable. Do you consider all your albums to have first-rate production? Bright kit would render a lot of mine painful. So your NASCAR quip was absurd IMO.

Silver Member

Username: Mike3

Wiley, Tx
USA

Post Number: 595
Registered: May-06

Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 01:17 am:

I think the intent here is not to promote one favorite over another, but to learn what to listen for. Suppose someone already listens to live music and they find pieces that can bring that to them?

Yes, I know listen to live music is the only way to understand what your system can do and that is 100% the best way to get "it".

However, when it comes to recordings, which is how 99.99% of us can get the experience of the musicians, it helps all of us to know what others are listening to in order to establish that their systems are doing whatever it is, right or wrong, that they are looking for.

I have not seen another thread that even came close to this. Clowning or nay saying not appreciated. Just go with it for the benefit of all, again, right or wrong. This isn't for the Jans, Franks, Nucks, Arts, Stus, Erics, Davids, or Mikes, as much as it is for everybody. Nobody can know everything about everything, yes not even Jan.

Indulge one another, allow us to post without rebuttal. Let it flow.

Oh, good God I am not from California. LOL.

Silver Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Canada

Post Number: 113
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 01:25 am:

Well said Mr. Wodek. Jan-sorry I didn't mean Old, ahhhhh how about classic?lol Actually I love listening to my Led Box Set DVD in DTS.MmmMMM sounds so good. Are DVD's ok? Or Do you guys when picking reference material to test speakers with, only use LP and CD? Well enough of me, I will let the experts get back to the posting, as I continue to learn.

Bronze Member

Username: Kevincorr

Fairbanks, Alaska
Usa

Post Number: 83
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 01:39 am:

"I do listen to some old Rock such as Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton though."

' "A thin wimper is heard from the side of the room where the walker stands.' "

Good one

That reminds me of a conversation I had with a younger friend who is a pro musician and happen to have left 1000 LPs w/mine in storage. So I was explaining how the great saxophone solo you would hear in "old" rock was normally just sitting in, not with the band. The jazz players often recorded in the same studios and made a great contribution. He wanted to know what sax solo since his idea of old rock was the late 60s and early 70s while I was talking about the 1950s!

Christopher Molloy

Gold Member

Username: Exerciseguy

Brooklyn, NY
United States

Post Number: 1188
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 08:43 am:

I've realized most of the music I've enjoyed for the first 39 years of my life just wasn't that well recorded, or that the emotion it conveys is so blunt, for lack of a better term, that there is little sense in trying to extract detailed nuances from it, IMHO.

I don't think I'll ever truly get sick of LET IT BLEED or STICKY FINGERS, and I have been able to clean-up what it is I'm hearing on certain tracks, but I honestly don't think I enjoy these recordings more because of it, my fondest memories of these recordings are of listening to them on scratchy-vinyl on my mom's Sterophonic all-in-one receiver/turntable.

What I'm discovering is that with better equipment, I want to listen to new, better recorded artist, often having to reach outside my comfort-zone.

I keep a copy of Jan's Emma Demo Disc around for tweaking & auditioning because it is very thorough in ability to push a set-up through the paces, and while I appreciate the quality of all the recordings & their usefulness for my purposes, I wouldn't say it's all my cup of tea, but then I don't think it was ever intended to be.

Listen to what you like, but know what it is your listening to, and remember, you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. (sorry for the cliche).

Frank Abela

Gold Member

Username: Frank_abela

Berkshire
UK

Post Number: 2288
Registered: Sep-04

Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 01:46 pm:

I always have a combination of good and poorly recorded music. In both cases, it should give me an emotional buzz. Examples:

CD:
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (atrocious recording, excellent songs)

Oscar Peterson Trio - Night Train 'Georgia on my mind'. Possibly the most heart rending jazz performance of this song ever made. Typical 1960-ish Verve recording, easily made boring through disjointed reproduction and poor timing.

Ludovico Einaudi - Le Onde. Beautifully recorded solo piano - and a nice piano too.

Led Zeppelin 2. 'Whole Lotta love' (or anything from this album). Not particularly well recorded but superlative performances. Easily screwed up by poor PR&T or veiled equipment.

Ray La Montagne - 'Till the sun turns black' - Fabulous recording, evocative haunting melodies.

We were playing with two (yes 2) £14000 CD players on a system and on occasions one player trounced the other and on other occasions the other player was the better player. It seemed to change depending on the nature of recording, the style of music etc. Still not sure which CD player I'd choose...

Records:
Art Tatum - 20th Century Piano Genius, 'Begin the Beguine'. If the PR&T isn't great as well as dynamic contrast, it falls flat. The recording quality is awful and there's someone in the foreground tapping their nails against a glass (out of time). The performance is fabulous.

Paco De Lucia - Siroco. 'La Canada' and 'La Barrossa'. Bright difficult recording. Fast Latin tempo, very difficult to get right.

Mary Black - No Frontiers. 'Columbus' evocative gorgeous voice, nice recording.

Billie Holiday - Songs for distingue lovers. 'That ole devil called love'. Evocative, yet not brilliantly recorded.

Saint Saens Organ Symphony - Duruffle. French Conservatoire (I think). Beautiful. Boring if the pace isn't right.

Any recording can teach you something about your system. You just have to listen with both your heart and your head.

Regards,
Frank.

Jan Vigne

Platinum Member

Username: Jan_b_vigne

Dallas, TX

Post Number: 10968
Registered: May-04

Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 04:14 pm:

.

"Any recording can teach you something about your system. You just have to listen with both your heart and your head."

Possibly, but I've got a few where my heart and my head tell me, "Don't you ever play that thing again."

.

John A.

Gold Member

Username: John_a

London
U.K.

Post Number: 4708
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 05:55 pm:

I agree with the post a while back from A.V. – listen to something you know very well. See whether there is more in it than you heard before, and, if so, try to identify what it is.

Silver Member

Username: Mike3

Wiley, Tx
USA

Post Number: 597
Registered: May-06

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 12:36 am:

Frank,

I thoroughly appreciate your post. I will print it and bring it along when I shop the used vinyl stores in hopes that I will find a couple on the list in either vinyl or CD.

Cheers good fellow!

Silver Member

Username: Stryvn

Post Number: 363
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 08:30 am:

Thanks for the input, Frank. I too, have printed out your post for future consideration while perusing the racks. The variety in your library suggests (to me at least) these are truly gems.

"You just have to listen with both your heart and your head"

Yep.

Nick K- I have what I consider to be reference material but I'm not sure I can put into words why. I'm listening and learning...kind of the reason for the thread. I find Frank's comments extremely interesting...

"...easily made boring through disjointed reproduction and poor timing."

"Easily screwed up by poor PR&T or veiled equipment."

"...very difficult to get right."

"Beautiful. Boring if the pace isn't right."

Silver Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Canada

Post Number: 121
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 08:43 am:

Stryvn- I hear ya. I can probably post some stuff that I find to be reference, to me at least, as well. Like you, I just don't know how to put it into words. Frank's post was great. I didn't know one single artist in the post, but I think I will purchase some off that list anyway.Cheers.

David Mitchell

Silver Member

Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

Post Number: 209
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 09:30 am:

For instrumental music I like to audition with Metallica's "To Live is to Die" from the the " ...And Justice for All: album. This song has some really interesting guitar tones, both with distortion and clean tones, as well as some really interesting guitar harmonies. The fact that the bass is mixed in low on the entire album helps the ear to distinguish the guitars, as well the various drum and cymbal strikes. Probably not everyone's cup of tea, but definitely worth a listen.

Silver Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Canada

Post Number: 123
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 09:55 am:

David-Right up my alley. I will pick it up.

David Mitchell

Silver Member

Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

Post Number: 212
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 09:57 am:

Right on Nick.

Bronze Member

Username: Skeeterhead

Post Number: 68
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 10:43 am:

Frank, I was just about to conclude that no one other than me listens to jazz music. Some of the recordings you mention are excellent for system evaluation.

Bronze Member

Username: Skeeterhead

Post Number: 69
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 01:38 pm:

How much can one really learn from a recording that sucks? I guess you could determine if it sucks even worse or has magically transformed into an audiophile's dream. Uh-huh. Would you really purchase equipment from this evaluation?

Stu Pitt

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 2005
Registered: May-05

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 03:40 pm:

I use a few bad recordings when I'm seriously evaluating a component or system. Why? Because I own some bad recordings. While I'm not looking for the system to make it sound better than it can possibly sound, it has to be listenable. There's no point in having a system that limits your catalog. Some great systems will make a bad recording unlistenable, while other great systems will make a bad recording enjoyable. But, it isn't the be all, end all of the evaluation process. Its usually one of the last steps, and can be a final deal breaker for me.

My bad recording of choice - Jimi Hendrix Experience Hendrix re-mastered CD. The recording has been somewhat cleaned up, but the imaging is way off, bass guitar sounds bad, and the drums sound like cardboard boxes. Its really a shame that music that good is recorded that poorly. Some systems I've heard have drawn me into the music and forget about the short comings - Naim, Rega, Bryston, McIntosh for example. Other systems have made the CD awful and boring - Krell, Electrocompaniet, Music Hall.

Every now and again I think about putting a demo disc together, but never follow through. I generally take a random few CDs with me that I listen to most often. I generally try to bring the following -

Encomium - A tribute to Led Zeppelin - Various Artists
Most of the CD's sound and production quality is great. My favorite is Stone Temple Pilots' cover of Dancin' Days. Mainly acoustic guitars, bongo drums, and some electric guitar. Scott Weiland's voice is very well recorded with very little echo. Some systems can make the song boring, while others can make it seem like you're there. Some systems will push the short electric guitar notes back, while others will throw them up front.

Led Zeppelin 2 - Whole Lotta Love
In addition to what Frank said, the part in the middle of the song when Page's guitar and Plant's voice is circling around the room can show imaging height, width, and depth. It should sound like a continuous circling, and not randomly here and there. Some of the best systems manage to screw this up. Combine that with Page's guitar screaming in your face when this part ends. I've heard too many systems make this sound boring.

Staind - Mudshovel - From Dysfunctional
The opening bass line can show how fast or slow a system is.

Alice In Chains - Would?
Shows bass pace in a different way than Mudshovel

Pink Floyd
One of my favorite recordings and songs. It can sound very natural and organic. It can also sound dull on the wrong system.

Korn - Make Me Bad
If the system is the least bit muddy, this (or just about any other Korn song) will expose it and make it seem so much worse. The guitars are tuned pretty low, playing in a lower mid almost upper bass region. In a clean sounding system with great PRaT, this song will move you. On the wrong system, especially one with a lower mid-range bump, it'll sound beyond awfull.

Metallica - Tuesday's Gone
Cover from Garage, Inc. Its hard to call it Metallica, because there's only two of the members playing. John Popper, Jerry Cantrell, Les Claypool, and a few others play in it as well. It was recorded live for a radio broadcast.
Great acoustic guitars, voices, harmonica... everything.

Metallica's To Live is to Die is another one of my favorites for the reasons mentioned earlier. Its also a great song IMO.

I've got plenty more, but don't want to take up too much space.

David Mitchell

Silver Member

Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

Post Number: 214
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 03:51 pm:

Good post Stu. I was going to mention Led Zeppelin as well as one of my favourite bands to listen to when auditioning. Something about Jon Bonham's drummming while listening to a good system, really, really LOUD. On lesser systems I find Zeppelin can end up sounding rather "sloppy", perhaps because of the less sophisticated recording techniques used in the 70's (I actually read in Guitar Magazine years ago that some of the guitar tracks - possibly from Zeppelin IV? - were actually recorded in a bathroom).

Christopher Molloy

Gold Member

Username: Exerciseguy

Brooklyn, NY
United States

Post Number: 1189
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 04:42 pm:

I've got some of those same tracks on my short-list Stu.

Stone Temple Pilots/Encomnium/Dancing Daze
-Excellent vocal, great vibe, great recording, better than Zep?

Alice In Chains/Unplugged/Would?
-I like the live version better than the studio track, I've stated before that I really love the sound of those MTV Unplugged sessions I've heard

The Rolling Stones/Stripped/Spider and the Fly
-The few live rehearsal recordings really stand out on this album, and really make the rest of the album pale in comparison

The Old Crow Medicine Show/Big Iron World/Down Home Girl
-A great remake of a old classic, fantastic harmonica jumps up front & center

Bob Dylan/Love & Theft/Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum
-The jumping baseline on this song gets stuck in your head, Dylan's grizzly old voice just adds to the effect, great song

Stevie Ray Vaughan/The Sky Is Crying/Life By The Drop
-Stevie on a 12-string and his only acoustic recording, I just like the way it sounds

Silver Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Canada

Post Number: 129
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 05:06 pm:

SWEET!! Stu, David and Christopher have some great taste in music. Stu every album you listed I have. I also use Led Zeppelin and Alice in Chains Unplugged for reference material. I also bring some Big Wreck-In Loving Memory Of- with me as well. Every song on that album has a insane bass line.

Bronze Member

Username: Kevincorr

Fairbanks, Alaska
Usa

Post Number: 86
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 08:00 pm:

Denis Michael: "...Frank, I was just about to conclude that no one other than me listens to jazz music..."
Hi. Notice my post above! I was thinking Art is the only one. He has mentioned some good ones from time to time. My collection is 70% jazz, 20% blues, 10 pop/rock/ethnic.
I have many Oscar Petersons and a few Art Tatums but not listed in this specific topic. I am going to go now and see how good Oscar sounds on Pablo Rec vinyl! I have a lot of Pablo label. Oscar did a series of 5 LPs at a friends private studio in Germany, some of his best work ever. I never thought to consider the sound quality, the sessions are so great: "Exclusively For My Friends".

Bronze Member

Username: Kevincorr

Fairbanks, Alaska
Usa

Post Number: 87
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 08:05 pm:

I should have said see Michael Wodek's and my posts above.
I still wonder if we are talking the same Patricia Barber Live CDs.

Stu Pitt

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 2006
Registered: May-05

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 09:07 pm:

Sorry...

The Pink Floyd track I was referring to is Wish you were here.

I haven't heard the Alice in Chains Unplugged album.

Another great demo track -
Phish - Julius From Hoist
The intro and parts throughout the song, the soundstage is huge. This song is capable of imaging past the walls. But the soundstage collapses when the choir and acoustic instruments stop and the guitar picks up for some strange reason. I don't know why, but it sounds better overall on my headphones.

Stu Pitt

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 2007
Registered: May-05

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 09:12 pm:

"Stone Temple Pilots/Encomnium/Dancing Daze
-Excellent vocal, great vibe, great recording, better than Zep?"

As sacreligious as it sounds, yes. I also like Cheryl Crow's D'yer Maker better than the original. Even worse, Hootie and the Blowfish's Hey Hey What Can I Say is great too. I hate that band, but they really did that song justice.

When I was demoing a Bryston system, the salesman liked them so much he made a copy of the CD and uses those tracks during demos.

Stephen M.

Silver Member

Username: Stefanom

Vienna, VA
United States

Post Number: 827
Registered: Apr-06

Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 10:01 pm:

Pink Floyd, The Wall, has and will likely continue to be my primary album for judging quality. It can certainly evoke emotions of out me on a good system; it can certainly separate good speakers from bad in terms of imaging, resolution, dynamics, etc. And of course, it was the first album I listened to which made me realize what a good system could do.