Any song recommendations for testing purposes?

Preston8452

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Jan 5, 2022
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Hi y'all,

So me and my pal came up with an idea about testing our own " streaming system " and see which is better, but yeah ofc, there can only be one variable, otherwise the test wouldn't be fair, no?
we decided to only change the streamer/player in each test, well luckily, my friend who happens to be an ultimate PC Hi-Fi fanatic, so the test itself which became rather easy haha, equipment-wise for sure.

Last Sunday, we were just chilling in my living room and chitchatting, he said he wanted to listen to some new modern pop song, so I played Shiver by Ed Sheeran, and he said the dynamics don't seem quite enough, I was like what the heck do you mean, and he said his system could present more details in the music than mine, anyways, so I brought my streamer over to his place, and would like to have a competition hahaha.

As I mentioned, he's a PC Hi-Fi dude, so he's done a lot modifications and all that upgrade stuff to his PC, so he used USB port to connect to his DAC and the rest to play the same song, Shiver by Ed, well truth to be told, I also thought the dynamics weren't quite sufficient as well lol, ofc he said my perception was biased bc he judged my system first, thus, we both agreed to play some more complicated tracks, like classic genre or something, however, both of us aren't that much of a elegant music admirer I'd say, which I sincerely hope you guys can share some nice songs with me!!!

BTW, we both played TIDAL via Roon, the only difference is just he used PC, I used Munich M1T, no network switch or linear power supply attached.

Best,
 
Unfortunately, there is no "One Tune to Rule Them All"

Here's a few old warhorses to get you started.

For female vocal and bass: Natalie Merchant/Live in Concert-Ophelia
For ambience presence and Staging: Miles Davis/Kind of Blue - Flamenco Sketches
& Diana Krall/Live in Paris - A Case of You
For Dynamics:
Hugh Masakela/Hope - Stimela
& Nikolai Rimsky- Korsakov Allegro Molto
& Reference Recodings versions of:
Fanfare for the Common Man
& Bercuse & Finale from the Firebird Suite
For low bass articulation:
Boz Scaggs/Dig - Thanks to You
For bass percussion and attack: Probably Eagles/Hell Freezes Over - Hotel California

There are at least few thousand more.:oops:
 
A few notable tracks that I use for testing.

Tool - Chocolate Chip - great sense of spaciousness, lots of different textures. Some action in the bass department too as a bonus.
Scout Niblett - Kidnapped by Neptune - dynamics, drums.
Katie Melua - Spiders web - vocals, clarity, musicality.
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain - vocals, natural instruments.
Alan Parsons Project - I Robot - precision, resolution, building layers.
 
Next I would recomend a few MQA tracks
lucky man Emerson lake and Palmer
some MTV unplugged as well. nirvana is a fav for me.
 
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Yikes, definitely a matter of taste there; I wouldn’t be able to listen to Korn for more than a few seconds no matter the circumstance.

These have been mine for years now:

"If These Walls Could Speak"
Amy Grant
Source: Myrrh CD "Lead Me On" (7016871614) (1988)

"The Water is Wide"
Karla Bonoff
Source: Geffen CD "Soundtrack from thirtysomething" (GEFD-24413) (1991)

"Fly Me to the Moon"
Frank Sinatra
Source: Reprise CD "The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings" (Disc 8) (47045-2) (1998)

"A Broken Wing"
Martina McBride
Source: RCA CD "Evolution" (RCA07863-67516-2) (1997)

“Toccata”
Mannheim Steamroller
Source: American Gramaphone CD “Fresh Aire III” (AGCD 365) (1985)

“Earthrise/Return”
Mannheim Steamroller
Source: American Gramaphone CD “Fresh Aire V” (AGCD 385) (1985)


“No Time for Caution”
Hans Zimmer
Source: WaterTower Music CD “Interstellar (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (Limited Edition Box Set 794043181924) (2014)
 
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Anette Askvik - Liberty
 
Yikes, definitely a matter of taste there; I wouldn’t be able to listen to Korn for more than a few seconds no matter the circumstance.

"If These Walls Could Speak"
Amy Grant
Source: Myrrh CD "Lead Me On" (7016871614) (1988)
Amy Grant…
 
Might as well add a couple from the sublime to the ridiculous ;)

Anything from the original Proprious PROP7762 Cantate Domino--especially the Julsãâ¥Ng

Ballad of the Runaway Horse --Jennifer Warnes ---Rob Wasserman Duets MCA 42131

Songs of Prayer--Gary Carr O Holy Night - King Records K33Y 198-- this was disc was given to me by the Kondo Demo fellow at a CES

after I praised its prowess :rolleyes:. Nah!--I wanted it--my bad!

Flight of the Cosmic Hippo --Bela Fleck--Warner B 7599

Lily was Here -Dave Stewart and Candy Dulfer--Anxious BMG ZT43046

Good Listening:D

BruceD
 
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Rickie lee jones -rodeo girl(flying cowboys lp)
great dynamics over 20db
Sigi schwaab & percussion academia-machu pícchú(rondo a tre lp)
best 3d imaging
Birdy- skinny love( young heart lp)
amazing voice and piano.she goes to buy a piano and plays this song in the shop. one of the friends films the song and posts it on youtube. overnight a star unbelievable story
Amanda Mcbroom -for nothing (dreaming gecko records lp)
all time favorite sooo good
Tsuyoshi trio(Three blind mice)- midnight sugar (lp)
amazing jazz recording realissym
Joe cocker - look what you've done(sheffield steel lp)
Rocks the house
Hans theessink -cuckoo(call me lp)
what a voice no goosebumps no good hifi
Peter maffay- wenn der letzte regen fällt(mtv unplugged lp)
One of best live recorded song for me fun factor
 
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For dynamics: 1667198726653.png
(Szell / Cleveland, "Live in Tokyo") The violins are a bit scratchy, but the overall atmosphere is impressive!)
In and of itself, the performance is astoundingly good (Mozart & Berlioz' Rakoczy March are reference material!)
 
Roberta Flack, Killing Me Softly, title track of the same album. Its available in 24/192 on Tidal and Qobuz. Excellent for vocals, soundstage, subtlety, micro details, bass, treble.
 
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You should try Korn Unplugged, it's fantastic even if you are not into heavier music. The atmosphere of that event is spectacular.
YES!!! Lots of the unplugged series are awesome! Alice In Chains, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Kiss, the list is almost endless..












































Neil
 
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If you are testing for streaming?

Start with this one song. Tidal only. It's a song by Marianas Trench called, "The Killing Kind". Play it loud.

This one song has become a benchmark for letting you know what is wrong with your streaming network, as it will let you know IN A HEARTBEAT if there is anything amiss. Whether that be digital glare, fogging, congestion.....and the list goes on seemingly endlessly.

The end result should be a crystal clear "everything" that draws you into the music itself and NOT the system. In other words, if you are only concentrating on the music? You have nailed the basics of your network audio system. If you are still annoyed with certain passages (Whether busy or low/heavy)? Then you have more to work on within your network setup/gear/power/cables, etc...

If one can pass this song without listening to the gear? You have now nailed the basic test for your streaming system.

From there? Just refine to your personal tastes and enjoy.

Tom
 
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I love dynamics. Most often we are talk8ng about drums,Canon shots,organs,choir organ pipe and such.
I was listening a jazz album when I was blown away.l am not going to describe it because I want to experience it the way I did. If you don't think it is the ultimate in transients ,it's your systems fault.
ITS GETTING TO BE A HABIT WITH YOU Cecile McLorin Savant
DREAMS AND DRAGONS
TIDAL MUSIC
Enjoy
 
I love dynamics. Most often we are talk8ng about drums,Canon shots,organs,choir organ pipe and such.
I was listening a jazz album when I was blown away.l am not going to describe it because I want to experience it the way I did. If you don't think it is the ultimate in transients ,it's your systems fault.
ITS GETTING TO BE A HABIT WITH YOU Cecile McLorin Savant
DREAMS AND DRAGONS
TIDAL MUSIC
Enjoy
Hi!
you might want to check out Earth Drums by Xuntian He. Incredible recording!
 
ITS GETTING TO BE A HABIT WITH YOU Cecile McLorin Savant
DREAMS AND DRAGONS
TIDAL MUSIC
Enjoy
Could that possibly be "You're getting to be a habit with me" on the Dreams and Daggers album, or is she just having a bit of fun with the titles of her songs?

I can't find it the way you noted...
 

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