how about some recommendations to good tracks to test a new system with? any kind of music really, i listen to rock, alternative, trance, house, classical, and only a little bit of hip hop

 

I always test with Gorillaz. They're a pretty good mix of bass and vocal. Then I've got some various jazz tracks I fine tune with. Maynard Ferguson, maybe some Coltrane.

 

Classical and Jazz -- two of the hardest types of music to reproduce accurately due to the dynamic and tonal ranges.

However, also take some music that you normally listen to as well.

 

i use several, but usualy, i have my standard, iasca set up and test discs, carsound disc, focal labs disc etc...to test with...



b

 

Any of the bigger more popular bands from 20-30 years ago.

Newer music is so heavily compressed as to completely lose all dynamic range. Older music will be missing some of the love of the Dolby noise reduction. The more popular bands would have access to the better quality recording gear and producers.

I have some great Genesis, Pink Floyd, and Yes music that I use to torture speakers prior to purchase.

 

I totally disagree. I think a lot of the new recordings have a clarity you're not going to get in older tracks.

Take any song by Sia. (yeah whatever.. I listen to Sia... so what?)

Infact.. just for that I'm using Sia to test mine when it's done.

 

there are a few tracks i use, coincedently i just used them last week after having my Z install done,
drum trip, by rusted root
just the two of us, by grover washington jr
nessun dorma , by pavarotti
any track of the spike cd by elvis costello,
and i usually try a few by peter gabriel , whitney houston or some other high pitched female,

it is most important to know how something should sound without coloration...like if the violin was in the room with you...than it doesn't matter what you listen to, you wil know if your system is reproducing the music without adding color to it. pavarotti and peter gabriel are good for me because i know what they sound like live, once you know you have found a system that is close to that (that will not be in a car) you listen to other music on it, find songs that push the system in different ways , and you can use that basis to judge other systems, i really recommend you find the most high end home audio dealer you can, listen to a system with no EQ, only 2 speakers, and costs at least 10k, listen to your songs, than try to find a reasonable sound in your car. sorry to drag on so long, but music is a big thing for me.

 

well even what they sound like "live" is basing it on whatever sound system they were using at that concert. Unless it was a small unplugged venue.

But yeah go hear your music on a good system and then hear it on yours and see how it compares. I know what my cds sound like on a nice Krell setup. And man... there's a lot there you won't even HEAR in your car. It's nuts. Anyway... good luck.

 

two things i should have siad before, try to get all digital CDs, there will be a DDD somewhere on the case, rather than a AAD or ADD the more digital D's the better (A is for analog and you may hear more hiss in them)

IF you can get your hands on a recording from a soundboard, do it, the signal is right from the instuments and microphones.....

one more option, for home use only, just to hear your music done well if you can't afford 10k
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite...p?transid=cat4

i wouldn't get them for rap, but they are fantastic ....open back style does not keep out (or in) any noise so don't use them on the train commutes

 

Prodigy is nice to test with...

 

Korn is always recorded extremely well ... if you are into that kinda music

Madonna - Die another Day is a very good track for any system.

Diana Krall's - Girl in the Other Room is also a very nice recording.

 

I use Yes too. Great range for testing transitions with!

 

for highs:
queen- another one bites the dust
phill collins- in the air tonight
dire straights- money for nothing
drowning pool-let the bodies hit the floor
charlie daniels band - dueling banjos

if you want bass:
daddy yankee - rompe
ying yang twins - i yi yi
baby ft clipse - what happened to that boy
eminen, dmx, obie trice - go to sleep

 

For Bass -

Petey Pablo - Rep yo' City
Bonecrusher - Grippin the Grain
Big Tymers - Still Fly (at the point he says ... 4 15s didn't see no wires .. then I hear BOOM ... ) gets nice and low.

I don't like to demo with bass only CDs as nobody know what the hell they are listening to and gets bored quite quickly.

 

Lil' Jon Bia Bia... I drove around high for a whole year before I even new who Lil' Jon was.. the bass has so many layers