What tracks do you listen to to demonstrate the quality of your audio gear. I’m looking for quality recordings of inspiring music. I’ve been putting together a list slowly over time:
Thanks in advance for sharing!
Money for Nothing by Dire Straits
New Frontier from The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
Sledgehammer from So by Peter Gabriel
Any track off of The Night Atlanta Burned by Chet Atkins
2 Likes
Had you cone across Reference/Demo Tracks ? I found some great music there! Not sure if those tracks are all on your list already but didn’t look like it.
I’ve created a playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ3F8bZ8h8bpH6L5kxldbZvu1dVMHFQxg . Its on youtube cause i dont know what streaming services everybody uses so create your own playlist based on this if you like it.
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Riviera Paradise
1 Like
I have multiple test tracks and depending on what device I have to test (for example if I need to test if audio goes fine out from TV to speakers there is songs from YouTube, otherwise from Roon etc). These also works as a demonstration songs too.
From Roon/Audirvana etc. if I just test audio only -setup:
-
Sarah Connor - From Sarah with love
This is because of best mixing in general, very breathing vocals and lots of small stuff there -
Katy Perry - You’re so gay (unplugged version)
There is good swing in there, I like that bass sound -
Epica - Canvas of life
Piano in the beginning is what I listen there and of course when other instruments comes how it feels -
Jenni Vartiainen - Missä muruseni on
Generally I like the sound of this song very much -
Nightwish - Devil & The deep dark ocean
This is song what I listen when I want to listen how good speakers/headphones separates sounds. There is vocal parts which are very hard to hear on some equipments but very easy on others
When I test if audio goes from TV to DAC/amp etc. I go to YouTube to test these:
-
Tessa Violet - Haze
Very good song with good sounds -
The Pretty Reckless - House on the hill
Awesome sounding acoustic guitars and breathing vocals in the beginning. Good for reference for me at least.
1 Like
The folks at Cambridge audio apparently use these: https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/gbr/en/blog/test-your-speakers-cambridge-audio-engineer
I like to use:
- Adele - Hello (I find you can really tell the difference between cheap and good audio gear listening to the chorus in the background)
- Dire Straits - Money for nothing
- Michael Jackson - Thriller
Here’s a good MQA playlist for demonstrating system quality: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/7979cf32-0f2c-4711-a3b1-46bdca3c6fb4
1 Like
This playlist is focused on quality recordings you’ll find to be very good: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/67e61e34-6ecb-4997-9a22-c66d3f01dd7e
“Martin Logan Showcase” https://tidal.com/playlist/452315dc-8d62-45b0-b422-e7c65e9fc428
This was a collaberation from a Martin Logan Speaker Group I belong to.
3 Likes
Great playlist!
1 Like
That’s a good mix, though I don’t have MLs. 
1 Like
This is the list I use for testing/demoing, at least at the moment
Walk On The Wild Side - Lou Reed
Bright Lights Bigger City - Cee Lo Green
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
Don’t Wanna Fight - Alabama Shakes
Burn The Witch - Radiohead
Go! - Public Service Broadcasting
Uh Uh - Thundercat
Turn Your Lights Down Low - Bob Marley & The Wailers