Ultimate Test CD's

pensacola

I would be interested in knowing what everyone's favorite CD's are for putting a system through its paces (either in an audio store, or when you just want to "tweak" your neighbors).

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For sheer power and SPL:

1. Pomp & Pipes, music for organ, winds, brass & percussion—
REFERENCE RECORDINGS
Powerful bass drum whacks and deep bass from the organ.

2. Holst: The Planets, Royal Phil. Orch.—
TELARC
Probably the most well-recorded bass drum around (I swear they put a mic inside of it). Huge soundstage, thanks to Telarc's "three spaced-omni's" minimalist mic'ing philosophy.

3. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, Chicago S.O.—
CHANDOS
Great full orchestra climax in "The Great Gate at Kiev".

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For female vocal:

Linda Ronstadt: Cry Like A Rainstorm-Howl Like The Wind—
ELEKTRA
Heavily orchestrated and over-produced, perhaps, but well-mastered.

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For male vocal:

Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms—
WARNER BROS.
One of the first digital pop/rock albums—a classic. Good vocals, great drums and cymbals.

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For acoustic jazz/small ensemble:

After Hours—
TELARC
3-piece jazz combo recorded in an auditorium. Great hall ambience. Natural sounding piano, upright bass, and guitar—no sound processing.

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For bass extension:

1. Pictures at an Exhibition (trans. for organ)—
DORIAN
Mega bass energy in the 16-32 Hz octave. Puts speakers and amps to the ultimate test in the final minute of this 35-minute work.

2. Saint-Saëns: Sym. No. 3, "Organ Symphony"—
PHILIPS
The last measures of the finale contain a decending octave scale in the 32' pipes of the pedal—starting at 32 Hz and ending up at 16 Hz. A challenge for any speaker, at any price.

3. Bach: The Great Organ At Methuen (Michael Murray)—
TELARC
Particularly the Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, ending with full organ with the low "C" (16 Hz) in the pedal.

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Stereophile also makes a couple of good test CD's, containing both music and test tones, but I think they're better for checking room acoustics and speaker placement at home.

goingganzo

i would say is put on some enigma and crank it up it has a wide range of music and it is a good relaxing cd put it on turn down the lights and just relax

Steve@3dai

Originally posted by goingganzo
i would say is put on some enigma and crank it up it has a wide range of music and it is a good relaxing cd put it on turn down the lights and just relax

You sir, are so correct I have listened to MCMXC a.D. so many times I know EXACTLY what it is supposed to sound like! Also, The Screen Behind the Mirror has lots of depth and variety of instruments, it gives quite a workout.

I have all the Enigma limited edition albums (except for the holographic MCMXC a.D (have green one)) including the 24k gold Enigma 2. I am an addict!!

- Steve

bkfk

Two questions;
1.on your ORGAN SYMPHONY which conductor/performer version
do you have?
2.on your feedback someone mentioned ENIGMA albums.For a
first time listener which cd would they recommend?
Thanks

pensacola

>>1.on your ORGAN SYMPHONY which conductor/performer >>version do you have?

I have two, actually:
San Francisco Symphony, Edo de Waart, cond., Jean Guillou, organ
PHILIPS

Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Eduardo Mata, cond., Jean Guillou, organ
DORIAN

[The Dorian recording has the Saint-Saens paired with the Jongen Symphony Concertante.]

Of the two, I prefer the Philips recording. The organ in Davies Symphony Hall (San Fran.) just seems to come through better. While the Fisk organ in Dallas is an 84-rank instrument, the Ruffatti in San Fransisco weighs in at 132 ranks—possibly explaining why it comes through a little more! I know the Ruffatti has more 32' ranks in it—some of them electronic (would love to see THOSE cabinets & drivers). So, it's just a weightier instrument.

ntculenuff

Originally posted by bkfk
Two questions;
2.on your feedback someone mentioned ENIGMA albums.For a
first time listener which cd would they recommend?
Thanks

there 1st one.. Mcmxc A.D.

joe logston

they are all real good, but on male vocal; try,

steve tyrell, standrad time,
columbia lable
ck 86006

the performance is awesome
the sound is awesome

sacd & dvd audio will have a hard time to better this one

shack

1 - My original test tape BC (before CDs) was Steely Dan, Can't Buy A Thrill. I still use it some today.

2 - I like to use Peter Gabriel, So. Gabriel always uses a lot of musical styles so this CD has a lot of range. There are good vocals including female (Kate Bush is on one track). Sledghammer gives the bass a really good workout.

3 - I agree with Pensacola. Dire Straits, Brothers In Arms is a CD I have used before.

4 - A single that I use (the rest of the album is not very good) is Lily Was Here by Candy Dufler. She is a Sax player from the Netherlands. This is a instrumental with sax and accoustic guitar. Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics plays guitar and arranged this one. It has a really good bass and drum track to give a system a good test.

I have several good classical CDs but I have never thought to use them as demos. I have a Bach pipe organ Preludes and Fugues CD that would really be a good one.

The Old Gaffer

Now bear in mind that I am the semi-deaf guy. but the CD that gives me goosebumps is "Missouri Sky" Jazz/guitar/bass. Pat Matheny and a great bass player whos name eludes me.