What Test CDs do you use?

[ozzie]

What Test CDs do you use to evaluate an equipment on the ff:

1. mids/vocals
2. bass
3. highs/details
4. soundstaging
5. musicality

tnx

[ppp383]

Try this one and it will reveal what your speaker is capable of in the upper and low bass reproduction, but beware that doing so will put you in great effort to replace your current speaker if it ain't reproducing that region well....

[sandawa]

the logical resources for this are the demo/test CDs of Sheffield, Chesky, etc.

however, i have set my own standards based on favorite music i'm too familiar with. these include Simon Preston's English organ music/Purcell Voluntary in G, for real bass; Caetano Veloso's Recuerdos de Ypacarai for acoustic low-mid/upper bass; Jennifer Warnes' Lights of Lousianne for mid frequency and presence; Emerson Lake and Palmer's From the Beginning for electronic mid and low; Amanda McBroom's Dreaming, for mid- to low-mid and presence; Carol Kidd's I'm Glad We've Met for vocals; Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Swing Low for space and presence; Schonhertz and Scott's Wishing Well for electronic bass; Stanley Reiser's Walyungo Jam and Jobim's long version of Brazil for high frequency, etc.

i usually carry four to six mini CDR discs (5 titles each) when i'm auditioning equipment, here, or abroad. that way, i would easily know, which gears are more superior than mine at home. if i don't do that, i'd get easily awed with the demo discs played in audio shops and would be wasting hard-earned money.

[avphile]

I have an old Sheffield "My Disc" test CD. But I think there are newer Chesky test discs that are more thorough and complete. Not just one but a series, costing about P650 each at Tower last I saw them.

[RU9]

sandawa said:

Scott's Wishing Well for electronic bass; and Jobim's long version of Brazil for high frequency, etc.

Hi Nani,

Interested in these two. Please give details, artist name, complete title and label.

Thanks.

Louie

[iceman90a]

I just recently discovered that Jacintha's "Here's to Ben" is a good test for Bass articulation... on the song "Georgia..." malikot yung bass sa background... if your speakers cant go down low enough - 1 note lang nadidinig mo, like the case of my Diamond 8.4's the SPL is there pero duuuum duuum lang nadidinig mo, no variation

[sandawa]

RU9 said:

Interested in these two. Please give details, artist name, complete title and label.

Thanks.

Louie

louie,

sorry, ngayon ko lang nakita 'tong post mo. schonherz and scott are Windham Hill artists. Wishing Well (1987) is from the album One Night in Vienna. 'yan yung last track sa mini-disc na kinopya mo.

Jobim's long version of Brazil is on Stoneflower album. classic ito and appeared on several labels, originally on CTI (vinyl). if you're looking for a CD, find the Japanese pressing, i was told it was beautiful. Jobim used a lot of percussions on the Stoneflower version.

the idea really is to be quite familiar with the sound of these titles at home. thus, when you get to hear these playing on another system, you'll easily hear the difference. (remember, i remarked about the bass of your REL when we played Wishing Well?)

pagbalik ko diyan sa inyo (probably April or May na), i'll bring you CDRs of sonic show-offs. para sa yo, kalahati nun, yung type na music natin decades back - yung maingay (he-he-he)!

[Superman]

sandawa said:

louie,

sorry, ngayon ko lang nakita 'tong post mo. schonherz and scott are Windham Hill artists. Wishing Well (1987) is from the album One Night in Vienna. 'yan yung last track sa mini-disc na kinopya mo.

Jobim's long version of Brazil is on Stoneflower album. classic ito and appeared on several labels, originally on CTI (vinyl). if you're looking for a CD, find the Japanese pressing, i was told it was beautiful. Jobim used a lot of percussions on the Stoneflower version.

the idea really is to be quite familiar with the sound of these titles at home. thus, when you get to hear these playing on another system, you'll easily hear the difference. (remember, i remarked about the bass of your REL when we played Wishing Well?)

pagbalik ko diyan sa inyo (probably April or May na), i'll bring you CDRs of sonic show-offs. para sa yo, kalahati nun, yung type na music natin decades back - yung maingay (he-he-he)!

sandawa, ru9...

i must agree that stoneflower is one of jobim's finest recordings...i have a copy...by the way, this was re-issued under the sony label, CTI din...only P280.00 but i do not know if this is comparable to the original pressing...thanks!

[ppp383]

iceman90a said:

if your speakers cant go down low enough - 1 note lang nadidinig mo, like the case of my Diamond 8.4's the SPL is there pero duuuum duuum lang nadidinig mo, no variation

Sir, try to sealed the port with a foam and listen if there is a difference.... thanks

[stereophile]

Cantate Domino(Proprius Label)- Whether it's a Test CD/LP, you will find all you need in this 1974 recording. The recommended test recording by Martin Logan for evaluating their electrostatic speakers. Need I say more? ;D

[Superman]

stereophile said:

Cantate Domino(Proprius Label)- Whether it's a Test CD/LP, you will find all you need in this 1974 recording. The recommended test recording by Martin Logan for evaluating their electrostatic speakers. Need I say more? ;D

agree...CANTATE DOMINO!! ;D

[RU9]

sandawa said:

pagbalik ko diyan sa inyo (probably April or May na), i'll bring you CDRs of sonic show-offs. para sa yo, kalahati nun, yung type na music natin decades back - yung maingay (he-he-he)!

Nani,

Thanks for the info. Will be expecting the audiophile-rock sampler.

Louie

[sandawa]

louie,

magbabayad lang ako ng utang. you gave me a copy of the "Concert for Bangladesh" double-album, remember?

[Lordfoo]

Chesky Ultimate Demo Disk

This is a good test CD. It starts with a description of the evaluation criteria like High Resolution or depth then proceeds to play a sample recording that aurally explains the evaluation criteria described.


Get Your "Golden Ears"
Reading about transparency, or focus only takes you so far.
The Ultimate Demonstration Disc is an "aural dictionary" describing every nuance of the listening experience.

Let Chesky introduce you to:

High Resolution
Depth
Atmosphere
Mid-range Purity
Naturalness
Transparency
Presence
Visceral Impact
Rhythm and Pace
Focus
Holographic Imaging
Bass Resonance.

[zetroce]

Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue



I like tracks 9, 11 and 12

The King's Singers - Beatles Connection



Acappella

[jagner]

Jazz at the Pawnshop (Proprius) - Soundstage and Presence

Sheffield Drum Track Record (Sheffield) - Mid-bass Dynamics, Weight and Impact

Cantante Domino (Proprius) - High and Low Frequency Response, depth and height of image

Don't Smoke in Bed Holly Cole Trio - Mid-range and vocal articulation

Belafonte Sings at Carnegie Hall - Ambiance