Great audiophile recordings/albums

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by KenCalgary

I'm not sure this qualifies but, for testing your system or otherwise identifying instrument timbre, you may download "Sound Quality Assessment Material recordings (essentially CD tracks) from the European Union Broadcast Union. There is also a Handbook for the EBU SQAM CD.

It is a wonderful resource and a worthwhile addition to your collection.

Link for the downloads .....

[KenCalgary]

With reference to the European Union "Sound Quality Assessment Material recordings for subjective tests", the zip file for all the CD tracks can be downloaded at:

EBU TECHNICAL - Publication - EBU SQAM CD

The Users' Handbook for the material can be downloaded at:

EBU TECHNICAL - Publication - EBU Tech 3253

[wjlamp]

A)The first three recordings by Spyrogyra

Spyrogyra -Spyrogyra
Morning dance - Spyrogyra
Catching the Sun -Spyrogyra

B) War

The World Is A Ghetto - War

C) Frank Zappa

Hot Rats -Frank Zappa
Joe's Garage - Frank Zappa

D) Steely Dan

Aja- Steely Dan
Nightfly - Donald Fagen

E) Charlie Mingus

Tijuana Moods - Charlie Mingus



B.L

[coolzero]

Wilco - Being there
Careless love / Dreamland - Madeleine Peyroux
Talking Timbuktu / Buena vista social club - Ry Cooder
OK computer - Radioheads (one of the best recording I heard so far)

Some of the good materials to try in any system.

[coolzero]

Desire - Jose james

[GregH2]

I think this one is a rare gem if you like modern music.

One of the few modern "popish" CDs I have heard that doesn't hurt my ears. Punchy electronic bass and not compressed to oblivion..



Beck - The information.

P.S. Does anyone else find Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits painfully sterile to listen to? The earlier straits albums have a foot tapping musicality that Brothers in Arms really lacks IMO. A very accurate technical recording no doubt, but boy is it sterile and lacking character.

[vdi_nenna]

Does anyone else find Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits painfully sterile to listen to?

That depends on who you ask. Vinyl people will tell you that it's flat and boring on CD. CD people might ask you, "what pressing of the CD do you have?". SACD people will say...you get the picture.

I don't think it sounds as good on CD as I originally though. The music is good, there's just something off about how it comes across. It's not dynamic enough for me, like it's too compressed. Kind of like listening to an mp3.

[wktk_smile]

TAGO MAGO (Remastered SACD) - CAN

Great Experimental German Rock in 70's era.
I 've astonished at the extremely "live" sound. Very well remastered disc.

[vdi_nenna]

Was listening to Jack Johnson CDs the other night. They sound real good, IMO.
Bush Fire Fairy Tails comes off a little better than the On and On. BFFT come off slightly more open and realistic.

[bassnkeys]

I am a professional musician (String Bass, Electric Bass, Hammond/Leslie, Rhodes, Clavinet) and live in the Twin Cities, MN. I do mostly live work but also some studio.
I use these three tracks whenever I need to evaluate, they come from albums that have unusual musical qualities.
1. Cesses Mortels de Soupirer from Sweet Was the Song by Owain Phyfe and the L'Ensemble Josquin. Binaural recording from the Head Acoustics Aachen Head. This can be found on Amazon.
2. Nobody Knows Me from Lyle Lovett and his Large Band.
3. One Mint Julep from I Dig by the Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble.
This last one is from a live recording I played String Bass on so I can attest to the recording. This can be found on ebay and I can say from personal experience that the download from either itunes or Amazon holds up surprisingly well.