The best part about these videos is- You typically get 10 really good songs (from the video itself), and 50+ more from the “Comments”…. Keep them coming!!
What you have never heard before. Yes, they are all famous. You are taking a journey outside the box. ruclips.net/video/RxCEMy022Do/видео.html Mori Masako. ruclips.net/video/GSa_8kePpac/видео.html ruclips.net/video/Pf4_1bAv7BU/видео.html Teresa Teng. ruclips.net/video/_0iG682XsTY/видео.html ruclips.net/video/opdo4Qux1tI/видео.html
You're right. The viewers share lots of their fav fine recordings and many of those records sound amazing. This is happening on many RUclips audio- oriented channels.
List of Songs 10 Barley by Lizz Wright 9 The Day before you came by ABBA 8 Remember me by Bridges Elver 7 Closer by Ane Brun 6 Fever by Malia 5 Rendez-Vous A Paris by Jean Michael Jarre 4 Autumn Leaves by Eva Cassidy 3 Hush by The Marias 2 Crimson Tide by Hans Zimmer 1 Children Under the Sun by Samuel La Manna
1. Arooj Aftab - Baghon Main 2. Bonobo - Emkay 3. Alt-J - Tesselate 4. Sons of Kemet - To Never Forget the Source 5. Melody Gardot - Preacherman 6. The Budos Band - Old Engine Oil 7. Anna von Hausswolff - How Many More of These 8. Yosi Horikawa - Bubbles 9. Ondara - Give Me a Moment 10. Johnny Greenwood - Future Markets A few recent favs! Thanks for sharing, excited to dive in :)
@@fmtntiger You’re absolutely right - the whole of Vulture Prince is impeccably recorded and truly astounding in its clarity. Very cool that you get the added context too!
Sharing our favorite music is very much part of the audiophile journey rather than talking about equipment all the time! Eva Cassidy sings a live version of “Over the Rainbow” on “Nightbird” that will give you goosebumps, a corny old song but you will never have heard it sung like this before…….
cant wait to listen to these tracks. My dac is at the doctor right now. going thru serious audio system withdraw at the moment. lm listening to music from my TV.
Thanks for sharing this list of tracks. It's always refreshing to have "new" recordings by "new" artists recommended rather than the same old predictable dozen or so tracks most folks refer to to. I'll start researching these recommendations immediately!
I agree with you. With music,variety is the spice of life. It's great to see the viewers chime in & to share ideas. I've learned about 5 new remastered recordings recordings that interests me..all from various audiophile channels on RUclips.
Thank you for this wonderful listing of HiFi Songs. First thing i did was to create a playlist on Spotify and then listen to your observations in the video and play the song. That let's me enjoy there song even better knowing what to expect, the intricacies of the music. This also helped me really appreciate the 5.1 set up that i have at home. Thank you so much. Looking for more recommendations. ❤
Nice selection, Gabster. Triste Bahia by Catano Veloso is one of my absolute go-to songs for A-B testing. 1. It's nicely produced 2. It has a wide sound stage with good separation 3. The instruments start off in such a sparse manner that you can hear roll-off, attack etc. Bass isn't widely tested though. 4. It's a bloody good track
My go-to songs for system evaluation: Kevin Eubanks - The Heat of Heat Kool & the Gang - Summer Madness Jewel - Serve the Ego Sarah McLachlan - Into the Fire Shawn Colvin - Shotgun Down the Avalanche
There’s only one track i use to demonstrate any decent audio system, it never fails to raise eyebrows, its a Grammy award winning song by the angel voiced ‘Lisa Fischer’ who sang backing for the late great ‘Luther Vandross’, and the track is called “How Can I Ease The Pain”…….. thank me later
Two observations: 1) Fischer’s singing style is very gasp-y which isn’t my cup of tea and isn’t necessary to express emotion for someone with an otherwise outstanding voice; and 2) that song seems like it would sound good on almost any equipment rather than have characteristics that would be masked by average equipment and be revealed by a higher quality speaker or component. It seems to be the audio equivalent of sampling tequilas mixed in with a big pour of pineapple juice instead of just straight. If I’m not mistaken, Fischer has toured with the Stones and featured prominently on Gimme Shelter.
Please try these songs, all with impressive sound: 1. The Cousins - Twistin In 2. Rosemary Clooney , Perez Prado- Like a Woman 3. Dead Can Dance - Rakim 4. Bjork - HUman Behaviour 5. Muddy Waters - Country Boy 6. Connie Francis - Solamente Una Vez 7. Tom Jones - Live from Las Vegas
I know Spotify isn’t lossless yet but I got myself a Cambridge audio cxn c2 and the upscaling is amazing on it but I found a playlist on there called “Speaker testing tracks” put together by Cambridge audio. Was really a joy hearing them make my speakers sing and definitely worth a listen. Great variation of well recorded tracks.
Thank you for the wonderful song recommendations and expert insights. Your keen observations about nuisances of the songs really add to the joy of listening to these songs on my HiFi system and helps me appreciate the music and the technology that makes it happen. Keep them coming. God bless.
Great many great songs! My go-to songs is: 1 Here’s to life - Antonsen big band. 2 One day you’ll dance for me New York City - Thomas Dybdal 3 Sol - Solar Fields 4 Return to the sauce - infected mushroom.
Check out the "My Funny Valentine" BONUS TRACK (# 11) that is only available on the 2003 *Japanese pressing* of Boz Scaggs' "But Beautiful, Standards Volume 1" album. The most intimate and pure recording of piano and the male voice.
A good friend of mine was in business for a while designing and installing home theater systems and he had a mini-theater set up in his commercial office space with speakers hidden behind grille cloth that made up the walls. I had the self-titled EMERSON LAKE & POWELL CD in my car and we threw that on, starting with the first track "The Score." It was an amazing experience. That whole album sounds like it was recorded in a single grand space, as if they were playing live; in fact, it sounds exactly like their video for the track "Touch And Go" looks. But in that demo room "The Score" was simply all-enveloping - three generations' worth of keyboards, massive drumkit with a physically merciless drummer, and a clean-as-can-be bassist with a tremendous singing voice.
Mighty Sam McClain: “Give It Up To Love.” it is a super high quality recording by Audioquest. On inferior quality equipment, Sam‘s voice sounds thin and scratchy, and it is only on better quality equipment, that the true richness and power of his voice comes out; although not well-known outside of the blues genre, McClain may be the finest male blues singer of all time. Back in the 1990s I was demoing some compact systems at Circuit City for my wife with the song, and two teenagers came up to me and asked for the name of the album they liked it so much.
My top recordings Runrig - Mighty Atlantic Jennifer Warnes - Famous blue raincoat Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms Eagles - Hotel California (live from hell freezes over album) Johnny Cash - Unchained album Jameroqui - travelling without moving Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley Jacques Loussier - air on a g string Best streaming quality - Amazon music ultra HD, yes better than tidal. RUclips, Spotify etc are just not cut out for high listening, zero sound staging from mp3s.
These recommendations are so helpful! My son introduced me to Eivor a few weeks ago and they are stunning! I'm super happy with my system but I do occasionally audition a track that causes me to question its performance. When that happens, I go back to some really reliable reference recordings, and if those sound right, I know I'm golden. Plus, the sheer pleasure of listening to first rate tracks in terms of both performance and recording is not to be missed. It's all about the music, presented in all its glory. Thanks and cheers! Subscribed, BTW. Also, if you like Hans Zimmer's work, check out Bruno Coulais. The French really understand and value recording and reproduction quality!... as do the South Americans, such as Sera Una Noche, etc.
Thank you Gabby, diverse and beautiful artistic selection, I have compiled into a playlist for all to enjoy...called Jilted ..because iit is the name of a Christine and the Queens song that I was listening to ...please only click if you have listened to Gabby's complete overview of these 12 tracks 🙏💜🎶🙂❣️
Some of my favorite rock songs for testing: The Knack - My Sharona -live studio sound. Toni Basil- Mickey . Squeeze - Tempted the remix and Lisa Loeb -Stay- remixes from movie Soundtrack Reality Bites. Pink Floyd- Time and Money from Dark Side of the Moon.. British Import vinyl. Alan Parsons Project- Sirius and Eye in the Sky. Hello- Oh Yeah (Ferris Buehler) . Lou Rawls- You’ll Never Find
Settle in in front of your sound system, turn the lights down a bit, close your eyes and play "What A Wonderful World" by Eva Cassidy from her album Live At Blues Alley. Pure bliss...it doesn't get any better than that.
Extra amazing when you consider how "raw" most of her recordings were! Little or no fancy digital "fiddling" after the fact and many were just "practice" recordings!
Any Hip Hop Audiophiles out there? Try these.... Selah - Kanye West i - Kendrick Lamar Destination: Mother Moon - Kid Cudi Namaste - Beastie Boys Sacrifice - The Roots (feat. Nelly Furtado) Let Nas Down - J. Cole
great topic, thanks Gabi! I really appreciate your outstanding work! For testing I personally use "Hello" by Evanescence - especially starting from 2:45 - if you turn up volume to the max and sound is clear and not distorted than you have a really good speakers, but I do this kind of testing in the car only, I respect my neighbours too much to do this kind of loud testing at home
All the selections are great performances, music voice-on and on. What is played here to test the sound system may be disliked by most listeners, but perform best as tools.
@Gabster Look for Joni Mitchell's "Just Like This Train" (Acoustic Live track in the KCRW radio station studio in Santa Monica, CA). It is on the *KCRW Rare On Air Vol. 2* CD. Phenomenal performance and excellent recording.
You have to like the music Traffic - Low Spark, John Barleycorn Steely Dan - Aja side 1 Joni Mitchell Hejira Bill Evans - Sunday Night At the Village Vanguard Duke Ellimgtom - Masterpieces at Midnight
Thank you for sharing. Subscribed for your hard work. As far as the thumbs up is concerned, I was going to wait until I get home and try them on my system frist, but looking over your shoulder I just know they're gonna sound great! Hence the 👍
Thanks for the Eivor tip, i like that a lot. If I can reciprocate... please listen to Moon River and love is a losing game, recorded by Eddi Reader on the Back the Dogs album. She is in my opinion, the finest female vocalist to come out of the UK in the last 50 years. I promise you wont be disappointed!
Great list - thank you. Does anybody have a similar list with classical music? My experience is that concertos and symphonies can push any system to it's limits.
@@jackwezesa1081 Actually I was thinking of Kamakiriade. Brilliant production. I like the full spectrum not just bass and vocals. I want to hear percussion, horns, keyboards, guitars, drums- I think that is how you test a hi fi IMHO:)
@@jackwezesa1081 Actually that's true in a band setting as well- if the drummer is on time and in the pocket- everybody falls into place- if the drummer is off- no one can save the sound.
1000 thx gabi, Dominique Fils-Aimé was realy the one I will follow for sure. ....and.... This is the record I take with me anywhere since it's been releases late the 80's: Voodoo (Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet) espacially track 1 on B side "Voodoo".... Yesssss :=) John Zorn: alto saxophone Wayne Horvitz: piano/keyboards Ray Drummond: bass Bobby Previte: drums
This is a pretty good list, but you left out any kind of rock. Weather you like classic rock or heavy metal, a busy band with multiple guitars and drums will really show you what's what with your system and your room. All of your top 10 test songs are pretty simple tracks. Hans Zimmer has a lot of sound and scale, but low complexity. Rendez-Vous was the most complex song, but it was largely electronic, so it's still going to come across cleaner and be less prone to sounding off, if it gets congested. Try listening to some early Metalica and listen to weather or not your system can maintain a sense of depth, or if it flattens into a wall of noise. Also try some Rammstein to see how well you can capture deep, male vocals and multiple instruments. They have a surprisingly wide range of sounds and styles throughout their albums. All your choices are good ones and for well thought out reasons. I just think that the spectrum of genre is incomplete. Even if you don't like hard rock, I'll leave you this: I got some nice new speakers and for the first time, something like an upright bass can be jaw dropping. Yet my room is untreated, so a lot of my harder music is still too congested even though the system itself has loads of potential resolution. If your system can handle rock, then everything else will probably be that much cleaner and more dynamic :)
Hush by Marías is recorded in spatial audio (Dolby ATMOS) Hmmm, okay. Did some research. Music is being released with both Stereo & ‘Spatial’ (Dolby ATMOS) versions mastered. That is, from the base recording tracks… sound engineers are producing 2 versions. Stereo & Spatial. So, it’s not wrong to listen to Stereo where spatial exists… though it can be a very different listening experience. Sometimes the Spatial version is significantly more interesting… ie. Lotsa Billie Elish stuff. Original Pink Floyd Time (Original quadraphonic) … Sometimes the stereo is superior. Ideally they’re both attempting to accomplish the same thing… wonderful staging.
I have just come across your channel by chance and continually searching for all things music and audiophile related. So glad I did. Music is such a huge part of my life; I was basically born with it in me. Interesting, surprising music, the kind that makes your hairs stand on end is what drives me to continue to search for fascinating music. I love some of your suggestions on this presentation and have already added them to my library. I have subscribed to your channel and will continue to get new ideas. You have given me some great songs; I will offer you two gems in return although I have so many favorites it is always hard to choose. #1 is Paul Mealor's 'A Tender Light' (song #4) 'Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal'. Uncompressed there are huge volume changes, but the fidelity, the huge soundstage of the recording of this madrigal, and the vocal harmonies are 'hair rasing'. #2 at the total other of the music spectrum is Darj. This is extreme low-bass electronica with lots of pops, crackles, and percussive surprises. The album is "Low Voltage Vol. 27" and the song is 'Journey'. It's a treat for your ears and a great test for your sound system or headphones. Happy listening!
@Gabster @megapix If you like Darj, check out *DJ Smilk - The Last Rainforest* EP. The title track and "Acoustic Crumpet" are best, IMO. They are available for streaming or Download in almost any format you want on their *BandCamp* page. Also check out Infected Mushroom (The Shen), and the artist Tipper.
@@bbfoto7248 Tried them both; excellent!, thanks. FYI, in Apple Music, it comes up under Smilk. Tipper! I was gonna recommend but you beat me to it! LOL
Thanks, havenm't got past Lizz Wright, new one for me and sounds great and right up my roots street! Look forward to exploring the other 9... Couple of my recommendations: Sara K recordings are incredible, either from her Chesky or Stockfisch labels periods. 'Waterfalls' album and live with Chris Jones are my particular favourites. Stickfisch label 'Closer to the Music' samplers are worth checking out too, featuring Sara, Chris and others
I’m so glad I watched this video. A lot of great new artists to check out. My favorite so far is Eva Cassidy who I was surprised to read lived less than two hours from me. Check out her album ( Acoustic). It’s such a shame she died so young 😢
@Ronnie Cramer If you like Eva Cassidy, please check out the album by *Steph Johnson Trio - Nature Girl* which is fantastically recorded. Unfortunately, it is no longer widely available, but you can get it if you search on Apple Music or iTunes, and most of the tracks are on RUclips as well. Just search for "Steph Johnson, Nature Girl".
1 Trauermarsch - Symphony No 5 by G Mahler: Sinopoli/Philharmonia Orchestra ruclips.net/video/llQc_BRSr7E/видео.html 2 Led Zeppelin by Sick Again ruclips.net/video/lcEqU4Bmo64/видео.html 3 Wayfaring Pilgrim by Roy Buchanan ruclips.net/video/MSKqEmeONuU/видео.html 4 Violin Concerto in D Major, RV 208 "Il grosso Mogul": II. Grave by A Vivaldi ruclips.net/video/oFlFoex-2lA/видео.html 5 Stabat Mater, FP 148: X. Fac ut portem Christi mortem by F Poulenc ruclips.net/video/H9z6DHDxbTw/видео.html These will test your speakers
Thanks Gabster for your recommendations. I found great new songs for my list. I also envy your audio setup. As many of here I´m also tempted to add some of my favorite songs but don´t want to hijack yours :). Greetings from snowy northern Finland.
I like the concept that many tunes are needed and correct about poor recordings. Vocals are essential for testing mid. I find electronic instruments are not good tests because they are flat and any depth sound is purely artificial. Electric bass is rather essential to test woofer-mid transition but double/tripple bass is essential to test woofer natural sound delivery. - Only one orchestra? For testing I use acoustic instruments especially for speaker placement and transitions between the speaker components. For testing highs and mids I believe Paul Winter Consort albums are a must especially Kurski Funk (triple bass and amazing clear high percussion). Tommy Emmanuel's albums are exceptionally recorded and give a pure test of mid and mid-high transition.
Nils Lofgren's Some Must Dream is also a beautiful test song... Especially after the bridge in the song. I love the haunting Black Books too, which first made an impression on me as an outro song in one of The Sopranos episode. Heck, the entire Lofgren's Acoustic Live album just gets better every time I listen to it!
Great suggestions. Some of my favorites are from Gino Vitelli, especially “Powerful People” and “People Gotta Move”. Superb dynamic range, seperation and just incredible recordings. Not heavy on bass but will demonstrate how good an😊 amp/speaker system really is…
Vocals Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall Best recorded vocal I've ever heard. Music and Dynamics- Lou Reed - Transformer (original vinyl) The Who - Who's next (original UK Track or US Decca vinyl pressings)
@@jackwezesa1081 well we don’t all like the same stuff but to say the stuff i like is SOOO BOOORING is a bit disrespectful to me, i like it, i might not like what you like but i wouldn’t be that harsh on you my friend
I'll play... ElO "From the Beginning" Dave Mathews "Crash (Whole album)" Dire straits "Fade to Black" (or most anything) Eagles "Hotel California" on Hell freezes over Joni mitchell "Good Bye Pork Pie Hat" Beck "Sea Change Whole album" Wildlight "Twirl Me" Most James Taylor Albums. Nicolas Jarr "Time For Us" Big Wild "Venice Venture" for bass. And more.....
I enjoyed your design of crossovers. I was wondering how much is the power rating and would sell a pair of speakers , how will cost me -a couple coats of lacquer will do iy nicely
Gabster, I really hope you will soon recommend new songs to us. Your recommendations in this video were just incredible !
Thank you, new one in the works :)
The best part about these videos is- You typically get 10 really good songs (from the video itself), and 50+ more from the “Comments”…. Keep them coming!!
I agree. Read mine above.
What you have never heard before. Yes, they are all famous. You are taking a journey outside the box.
ruclips.net/video/RxCEMy022Do/видео.html
Mori Masako.
ruclips.net/video/GSa_8kePpac/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/Pf4_1bAv7BU/видео.html
Teresa Teng.
ruclips.net/video/_0iG682XsTY/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/opdo4Qux1tI/видео.html
You're right. The viewers share lots of their fav fine recordings and many of those records sound amazing. This is happening on many RUclips audio- oriented channels.
List of Songs
10 Barley by Lizz Wright
9 The Day before you came by ABBA
8 Remember me by Bridges Elver
7 Closer by Ane Brun
6 Fever by Malia
5 Rendez-Vous A Paris by Jean Michael Jarre
4 Autumn Leaves by Eva Cassidy
3 Hush by The Marias
2 Crimson Tide by Hans Zimmer
1 Children Under the Sun by Samuel La Manna
Thank you.
Children under the 'Star'
Tks a lot for listing the songs
Nice!
8 Bridges Ivør
1. Arooj Aftab - Baghon Main
2. Bonobo - Emkay
3. Alt-J - Tesselate
4. Sons of Kemet - To Never Forget the Source
5. Melody Gardot - Preacherman
6. The Budos Band - Old Engine Oil
7. Anna von Hausswolff - How Many More of These
8. Yosi Horikawa - Bubbles
9. Ondara - Give Me a Moment
10. Johnny Greenwood - Future Markets
A few recent favs! Thanks for sharing, excited to dive in :)
just got hooked on Arooj Aftab. The recording is amazing and I do understand some urdu, so liking it even more.
@@fmtntiger You’re absolutely right - the whole of Vulture Prince is impeccably recorded and truly astounding in its clarity. Very cool that you get the added context too!
I agree, the music from a great recorded song is...priceless..
Sharing our favorite music is very much part of the audiophile journey rather than talking about equipment all the time!
Eva Cassidy sings a live version of “Over the Rainbow” on “Nightbird” that will give you goosebumps, a corny old song but you will never have heard it sung like this before…….
Eva sang with soul. Her version of Over The Rainbow melts me every time I hear it.
Eva, when she was with us, could make ANY song special!
Great track. Like nearly all the songs he recorded, Jerry Lee Lewis does it best 🤘
ruclips.net/video/RxCEMy022Do/видео.html
What a pure, beautiful voice. I am in love!
cant wait to listen to these tracks. My dac is at the doctor right now. going thru serious audio system withdraw at the moment. lm listening to music from my TV.
Thanks for sharing this list of tracks. It's always refreshing to have "new" recordings by "new" artists recommended rather than the same old predictable dozen or so tracks most folks refer to to. I'll start researching these recommendations immediately!
I agree with you. With music,variety is the spice of life. It's great to see the viewers chime in & to share ideas. I've learned about 5 new remastered recordings recordings that interests me..all from various audiophile channels on RUclips.
The Who, Quadrophenia and Love Reign o’re me - dynamic range, thunderous drums and impeccably recorded too. ❤
This is an incredible list. Thanks for the new music and introduction to some amazing recordings.
Thank you for this wonderful listing of HiFi Songs. First thing i did was to create a playlist on Spotify and then listen to your observations in the video and play the song. That let's me enjoy there song even better knowing what to expect, the intricacies of the music. This also helped me really appreciate the 5.1 set up that i have at home. Thank you so much. Looking for more recommendations. ❤
Nice selection, Gabster. Triste Bahia by Catano Veloso is one of my absolute go-to songs for A-B testing.
1. It's nicely produced
2. It has a wide sound stage with good separation
3. The instruments start off in such a sparse manner that you can hear roll-off, attack etc. Bass isn't widely tested though.
4. It's a bloody good track
My go-to songs for system evaluation:
Kevin Eubanks - The Heat of Heat
Kool & the Gang - Summer Madness
Jewel - Serve the Ego
Sarah McLachlan - Into the Fire
Shawn Colvin - Shotgun Down the Avalanche
There’s only one track i use to demonstrate any decent audio system, it never fails to raise eyebrows, its a Grammy award winning song by the angel voiced ‘Lisa Fischer’ who sang backing for the late great ‘Luther Vandross’, and the track is called “How Can I Ease The Pain”…….. thank me later
Yep, he right!
Great choice
Two observations:
1) Fischer’s singing style is very gasp-y which isn’t my cup of tea and isn’t necessary to express emotion for someone with an otherwise outstanding voice; and
2) that song seems like it would sound good on almost any equipment rather than have characteristics that would be masked by average equipment and be revealed by a higher quality speaker or component. It seems to be the audio equivalent of sampling tequilas mixed in with a big pour of pineapple juice instead of just straight.
If I’m not mistaken, Fischer has toured with the Stones and featured prominently on Gimme Shelter.
Thank you, you might try I diine skap by kari bremnes
Thank you.
Great News Gabby.
Thanks.
Please try these songs, all with impressive sound:
1. The Cousins - Twistin In
2. Rosemary Clooney , Perez Prado- Like a Woman
3. Dead Can Dance - Rakim
4. Bjork - HUman Behaviour
5. Muddy Waters - Country Boy
6. Connie Francis - Solamente Una Vez
7. Tom Jones - Live from Las Vegas
I know Spotify isn’t lossless yet but I got myself a Cambridge audio cxn c2 and the upscaling is amazing on it but I found a playlist on there called “Speaker testing tracks” put together by Cambridge audio. Was really a joy hearing them make my speakers sing and definitely worth a listen. Great variation of well recorded tracks.
Thank you for the wonderful song recommendations and expert insights. Your keen observations about nuisances of the songs really add to the joy of listening to these songs on my HiFi system and helps me appreciate the music and the technology that makes it happen. Keep them coming. God bless.
Thank you 🙏
Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Lucky Man" was my go-to test song back in the '70s.
Carl Palmer’s drum kit !
That is..and always has been a great audio test track.
Great many great songs!
My go-to songs is:
1 Here’s to life - Antonsen big band.
2 One day you’ll dance for me New York City - Thomas Dybdal
3 Sol - Solar Fields
4 Return to the sauce - infected mushroom.
Thanks To You - Box Scaggs
Check out the "My Funny Valentine" BONUS TRACK (# 11) that is only available on the 2003 *Japanese pressing* of Boz Scaggs' "But Beautiful, Standards Volume 1" album. The most intimate and pure recording of piano and the male voice.
The Crimson Tide soundtrack got me. I listened to it till the end of the track. Now I will have to rewatch the movie again after 28 years!
Thanks for the awesome content!
O-Zone Percussion Group - Jazz Variants is very nice too :)
A good friend of mine was in business for a while designing and installing home theater systems and he had a mini-theater set up in his commercial office space with speakers hidden behind grille cloth that made up the walls. I had the self-titled EMERSON LAKE & POWELL CD in my car and we threw that on, starting with the first track "The Score." It was an amazing experience. That whole album sounds like it was recorded in a single grand space, as if they were playing live; in fact, it sounds exactly like their video for the track "Touch And Go" looks. But in that demo room "The Score" was simply all-enveloping - three generations' worth of keyboards, massive drumkit with a physically merciless drummer, and a clean-as-can-be bassist with a tremendous singing voice.
Great stuff man! Gonna listen to the entire album each song originally came from. Lizz Wright's Grace is amazing, so far!
Always good to find new music, thanks for this 👍
Mighty Sam McClain: “Give It Up To Love.” it is a super high quality recording by Audioquest. On inferior quality equipment, Sam‘s voice sounds thin and scratchy, and it is only on better quality equipment, that the true richness and power of his voice comes out; although not well-known outside of the blues genre, McClain may be the finest male blues singer of all time. Back in the 1990s I was demoing some compact systems at Circuit City for my wife with the song, and two teenagers came up to me and asked for the name of the album they liked it so much.
@WisGuy4
Agreed. Check out his *Soul Survivor* album, and specifically Mighty Sam's "When the Hurt is Over" track. AMAZING!
My top recordings
Runrig - Mighty Atlantic
Jennifer Warnes - Famous blue raincoat
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Eagles - Hotel California (live from hell freezes over album)
Johnny Cash - Unchained album
Jameroqui - travelling without moving
Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley
Jacques Loussier - air on a g string
Best streaming quality - Amazon music ultra HD, yes better than tidal. RUclips, Spotify etc are just not cut out for high listening, zero sound staging from mp3s.
Nice list. Another great on is Beck - Where It's At. Incredibly clean music, all different musical sounds.
These recommendations are so helpful! My son introduced me to Eivor a few weeks ago and they are stunning! I'm super happy with my system but I do occasionally audition a track that causes me to question its performance. When that happens, I go back to some really reliable reference recordings, and if those sound right, I know I'm golden. Plus, the sheer pleasure of listening to first rate tracks in terms of both performance and recording is not to be missed. It's all about the music, presented in all its glory. Thanks and cheers! Subscribed, BTW. Also, if you like Hans Zimmer's work, check out Bruno Coulais. The French really understand and value recording and reproduction quality!... as do the South Americans, such as Sera Una Noche, etc.
Thank you Gabby, diverse and beautiful artistic selection, I have compiled into a playlist for all to enjoy...called Jilted ..because iit is the name of a Christine and the Queens song that I was listening to ...please only click if you have listened to Gabby's complete overview of these 12 tracks 🙏💜🎶🙂❣️
Some of my favorite rock songs for testing: The Knack - My Sharona -live studio sound. Toni Basil- Mickey . Squeeze - Tempted the remix and Lisa Loeb -Stay- remixes from movie Soundtrack Reality Bites. Pink Floyd- Time and Money from Dark Side of the Moon.. British Import vinyl. Alan Parsons Project- Sirius and Eye in the Sky. Hello- Oh Yeah (Ferris Buehler) . Lou Rawls- You’ll Never Find
Led Zeppelin #One & ELP Brain Salad Surgery !
Settle in in front of your sound system, turn the lights down a bit, close your eyes and play "What A Wonderful World" by Eva Cassidy from her album Live At Blues Alley. Pure bliss...it doesn't get any better than that.
Autumn Leaves on that live recording kills.
Extra amazing when you consider how "raw" most of her recordings were! Little or no fancy digital "fiddling" after the fact and many were just "practice" recordings!
A fantastic album.We lost her so young.
This track list suggestion was very useful for me, it made it clear that i needed to adjust my bass in dirac (reduce it) Thank you for sharing Gabby
Any Hip Hop Audiophiles out there? Try these....
Selah - Kanye West
i - Kendrick Lamar
Destination: Mother Moon - Kid Cudi
Namaste - Beastie Boys
Sacrifice - The Roots (feat. Nelly Furtado)
Let Nas Down - J. Cole
just found it today .... knew half of the portion, but the other half means some new gems for me .... thx a lot
Thank you, Always fun discovering new music at the end it is all about enjoying the music.
totally agreed@@Gabster1
Thanks for posting this interesting topical video.
New one coming tomorrow :)
Avratz, infected mushroom
Nice! Keep sharing tracks and artists you enjoy. Always looking for new artists to enjoy and support.
Hi there, thank you very much for this, I‘ve already added a couple of songs to my own test-list. Your DIY system looks awesome!
Thank you for sharing this list. It's been great to listen to and the recordings are awesome.
A few songs I've become partial to... So lonely (the police), Stereo (pavement), As (Stevie Wonder) Deja vu (csny), Down to Zero (Joan Armatrading).
Nice !
great topic, thanks Gabi! I really appreciate your outstanding work!
For testing I personally use "Hello" by Evanescence - especially starting from 2:45 - if you turn up volume to the max and sound is clear and not distorted than you have a really good speakers, but I do this kind of testing in the car only, I respect my neighbours too much to do this kind of loud testing at home
Tin Pan Alley SRV from Couldn't Stand the Weather.... the best recording I have ever heard.
All the selections are great performances, music voice-on and on. What is played here to test the sound system may be disliked by most listeners, but perform best as tools.
'base' - the lowest part or edge of something, especially the part on which it rests or is supported.
'bass' - deep or grave in tone
@Gabster
Look for Joni Mitchell's "Just Like This Train" (Acoustic Live track in the KCRW radio station studio in Santa Monica, CA). It is on the *KCRW Rare On Air Vol. 2* CD. Phenomenal performance and excellent recording.
I’ve always used Paul Weller Broken Stones when buying amp, deck or speakers. Will try this new list on my new Naim and B&W’s. Thanks for this list
I once played Pink Floyd’s “Time” on a pair of Klipschorns.
Fantastic, Autumn Leaves knocked me out.
wow, so many great songs and artists I didn't know! Such fantastic production - you are completely right that it showcases good systems! Thank you :)
You have to like the music
Traffic - Low Spark, John Barleycorn
Steely Dan - Aja side 1
Joni Mitchell Hejira
Bill Evans - Sunday Night At the Village Vanguard
Duke Ellimgtom - Masterpieces at Midnight
Thank you, this is just what I have been looking for.
Thank you glad you found it helpful
May I also suggest The Friends of Mr Cairo which I have on CD and vinyl.
Thank you for sharing. Subscribed for your hard work. As far as the thumbs up is concerned, I was going to wait until I get home and try them on my system frist, but looking over your shoulder I just know they're gonna sound great!
Hence the 👍
Thanks for the Eivor tip, i like that a lot. If I can reciprocate... please listen to Moon River and love is a losing game, recorded by Eddi Reader on the Back the Dogs album. She is in my opinion, the finest female vocalist to come out of the UK in the last 50 years. I promise you wont be disappointed!
Thank you
Thank you for the list. It led to so many other good music. You might like Agnes Obel Familiar of her Album Citizen of Glass
I'll check it out!
Great stuff. Thanks for introducing me to some great music to check out. Cheers from Chicago.
appreciate the list. try Harmonium from Quebec. I was stunned by the recording since its from the 70s. hope you don*t mind the french singing.
Great list - thank you. Does anybody have a similar list with classical music? My experience is that concertos and symphonies can push any system to it's limits.
Anything by Donald Fagen is Superbly recorded.
Night fly is way too bright ( early digital ).
@@jackwezesa1081 Actually I was thinking of Kamakiriade. Brilliant production. I like the full spectrum not just bass and vocals. I want to hear percussion, horns, keyboards, guitars, drums- I think that is how you test a hi fi IMHO:)
@@kenbash2951 Agree. I always felt if you got the drum sound right everything else fell in to place.
@@jackwezesa1081 Actually that's true in a band setting as well- if the drummer is on time and in the pocket- everybody falls into place- if the drummer is off- no one can save the sound.
@@kenbash2951 100 % Ken !
Thank you. This is going to be helpful! 🙏🏼
1000 thx gabi, Dominique Fils-Aimé was realy the one I will follow for sure. ....and....
This is the record I take with me anywhere since it's been releases late the 80's:
Voodoo (Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet) espacially track 1 on B side "Voodoo".... Yesssss :=)
John Zorn: alto saxophone
Wayne Horvitz: piano/keyboards
Ray Drummond: bass
Bobby Previte: drums
Thanks 🙏
“A Few Small Repairs” by Shawn Colvin
This is a pretty good list, but you left out any kind of rock. Weather you like classic rock or heavy metal, a busy band with multiple guitars and drums will really show you what's what with your system and your room. All of your top 10 test songs are pretty simple tracks. Hans Zimmer has a lot of sound and scale, but low complexity. Rendez-Vous was the most complex song, but it was largely electronic, so it's still going to come across cleaner and be less prone to sounding off, if it gets congested. Try listening to some early Metalica and listen to weather or not your system can maintain a sense of depth, or if it flattens into a wall of noise. Also try some Rammstein to see how well you can capture deep, male vocals and multiple instruments. They have a surprisingly wide range of sounds and styles throughout their albums.
All your choices are good ones and for well thought out reasons. I just think that the spectrum of genre is incomplete. Even if you don't like hard rock, I'll leave you this: I got some nice new speakers and for the first time, something like an upright bass can be jaw dropping. Yet my room is untreated, so a lot of my harder music is still too congested even though the system itself has loads of potential resolution. If your system can handle rock, then everything else will probably be that much cleaner and more dynamic :)
Thank you Zack you have a great point. I like your explanation and your thoughts I will include some hard Rock complex songs in my next one
Hush by Marías is recorded in spatial audio (Dolby ATMOS)
Hmmm, okay. Did some research.
Music is being released with both Stereo & ‘Spatial’ (Dolby ATMOS) versions mastered.
That is, from the base recording tracks… sound engineers are producing 2 versions. Stereo & Spatial. So, it’s not wrong to listen to Stereo where spatial exists… though it can be a very different listening experience.
Sometimes the Spatial version is significantly more interesting… ie. Lotsa Billie Elish stuff. Original Pink Floyd Time (Original quadraphonic) …
Sometimes the stereo is superior.
Ideally they’re both attempting to accomplish the same thing… wonderful staging.
I have just come across your channel by chance and continually searching for all things music and audiophile related. So glad I did. Music is such a huge part of my life; I was basically born with it in me. Interesting, surprising music, the kind that makes your hairs stand on end is what drives me to continue to search for fascinating music. I love some of your suggestions on this presentation and have already added them to my library. I have subscribed to your channel and will continue to get new ideas. You have given me some great songs; I will offer you two gems in return although I have so many favorites it is always hard to choose. #1 is Paul Mealor's 'A Tender Light' (song #4) 'Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal'. Uncompressed there are huge volume changes, but the fidelity, the huge soundstage of the recording of this madrigal, and the vocal harmonies are 'hair rasing'. #2 at the total other of the music spectrum is Darj. This is extreme low-bass electronica with lots of pops, crackles, and percussive surprises. The album is "Low Voltage Vol. 27" and the song is 'Journey'. It's a treat for your ears and a great test for your sound system or headphones. Happy listening!
Thank you and I will check your suggestions always nice to see what others like.
Found channel by chance today as well.Subscribed.I am amazed at how many wonderful artists I haven't even heard of.
@Gabster
@megapix
If you like Darj, check out *DJ Smilk - The Last Rainforest* EP. The title track and "Acoustic Crumpet" are best, IMO. They are available for streaming or Download in almost any format you want on their *BandCamp* page. Also check out Infected Mushroom (The Shen), and the artist Tipper.
Thank, will do.
@@bbfoto7248 Tried them both; excellent!, thanks. FYI, in Apple Music, it comes up under Smilk. Tipper! I was gonna recommend but you beat me to it! LOL
Thanks, havenm't got past Lizz Wright, new one for me and sounds great and right up my roots street! Look forward to exploring the other 9... Couple of my recommendations: Sara K recordings are incredible, either from her Chesky or Stockfisch labels periods. 'Waterfalls' album and live with Chris Jones are my particular favourites. Stickfisch label 'Closer to the Music' samplers are worth checking out too, featuring Sara, Chris and others
Some of my favourite references:
1. Yello - Touch Yello (whole album)
2. James Taylor - Hourglass (whole album)
3. Brand New Day - Sting (whole album)
That Rendevouz a Paris by JMJ reminds me of Art of Noise. 😉
Good selection over all. Thanks for sharing.
Gabster, a very good all-round smooth playlist. Appreciated. Haters Gona hate. Subscribed.
Thanks! The version of these tracks is just as important, please specify, thanks again.
I’m so glad I watched this video. A lot of great new artists to check out. My favorite so far is Eva Cassidy who I was surprised to read lived less than two hours from me. Check out her album ( Acoustic). It’s such a shame she died so young 😢
@Ronnie Cramer
If you like Eva Cassidy, please check out the album by *Steph Johnson Trio - Nature Girl* which is fantastically recorded. Unfortunately, it is no longer widely available, but you can get it if you search on Apple Music or iTunes, and most of the tracks are on RUclips as well. Just search for "Steph Johnson, Nature Girl".
Eva was amazing. Chills with both Fields of Gold and Over the Rainbow
1 Trauermarsch - Symphony No 5 by G Mahler: Sinopoli/Philharmonia Orchestra ruclips.net/video/llQc_BRSr7E/видео.html
2 Led Zeppelin by Sick Again ruclips.net/video/lcEqU4Bmo64/видео.html
3 Wayfaring Pilgrim by Roy Buchanan ruclips.net/video/MSKqEmeONuU/видео.html
4 Violin Concerto in D Major, RV 208 "Il grosso Mogul": II. Grave by A Vivaldi ruclips.net/video/oFlFoex-2lA/видео.html
5 Stabat Mater, FP 148: X. Fac ut portem Christi mortem by F Poulenc ruclips.net/video/H9z6DHDxbTw/видео.html
These will test your speakers
I like to use Tom Sawyer to tune my stereo
Thanks Gabster for your recommendations. I found great new songs for my list. I also envy your audio setup. As many of here I´m also tempted to add some of my favorite songs but don´t want to hijack yours :). Greetings from snowy northern Finland.
Take 5 by Brubeck is awesome to test.
@gabster, I have added all the tracks from Tidal and enjoying it a lot. Great job pulling this together.
Thank you 🙏
I like the concept that many tunes are needed and correct about poor recordings. Vocals are essential for testing mid. I find electronic instruments are not good tests because they are flat and any depth sound is purely artificial. Electric bass is rather essential to test woofer-mid transition but double/tripple bass is essential to test woofer natural sound delivery.
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Only one orchestra? For testing I use acoustic instruments especially for speaker placement and transitions between the speaker components. For testing highs and mids I believe Paul Winter Consort albums are a must especially Kurski Funk (triple bass and amazing clear high percussion). Tommy Emmanuel's albums are exceptionally recorded and give a pure test of mid and mid-high transition.
wow! that's a great list. few new jams, not sure how I didn't know about Lizz Wright.
Thank you for introducing me to Hush by The Marias!
#1 and # 10 are my favorite thank you for sharing!
Thanks for letting me know I like it when I hear what your preferences are
I can only say wow!!! Great selection 👍🏼 I only got 2 out of 10 from your list . Amazing choices!
Thanks for sharing this list. Some great tracks here.
I would add Nils Lofgren Keith Don't go Live, the recording is amazing, the guitar(as a guitar player myself) sounds so natural it's almost scary.
Nils Lofgren's Some Must Dream is also a beautiful test song... Especially after the bridge in the song. I love the haunting Black Books too, which first made an impression on me as an outro song in one of The Sopranos episode.
Heck, the entire Lofgren's Acoustic Live album just gets better every time I listen to it!
Great list! Thanks!
All people do listen to Dire straits "you and your friend " for checking any audio systems, it's one and only I use to check 💯👈😎💥💥💥
The whole Dire Straits catalog - perhaps except Making Movies 👍🇩🇰
The best recorded songs to test and improve your HIFI system are the songs you like!
Thanks, Try this one: Japanese Roots by Take Dake, John Kaizan Neptune, Album Asian Roots
Excellent 👌
... we are waiting the video about how you modified the power supply into the lan-to-fiber converter
Great suggestions. Some of my favorites are from Gino Vitelli, especially “Powerful People” and “People Gotta Move”. Superb dynamic range, seperation and just incredible recordings. Not heavy on bass but will demonstrate how good an😊 amp/speaker system really is…
Gino ViNelli
@@carriestuart9921 Gino Vannelli
WOW !! Gino Vannelli ‘s Brother to Brother album , very well recorded.
@@jackwezesa1081 Gino is and was a stickler for perfection.
@@dam4274 You sure can tell within a few seconds of listening. I played Gist of Gemini yesterday very loudly ! Great stuff !
Thanks for the great finds!
You nailed it
Vocals
Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
Best recorded vocal I've ever heard.
Music and Dynamics-
Lou Reed - Transformer (original vinyl)
The Who - Who's next (original UK Track or US Decca vinyl pressings)
Great list! Thanks for the video. Subscribed!
Try, A Walk Across The Rooftops” by The Blue Nile, on Linn hifi’s own record label, an astounding atmospheric track
In fact just try the whole album then follow that with their 2nd album “HATS”.
Sounds good but SOO BORING !!
@@jackwezesa1081 well we don’t all like the same stuff but to say the stuff i like is SOOO BOOORING is a bit disrespectful to me, i like it, i might not like what you like but i wouldn’t be that harsh on you my friend
I'll play...
ElO "From the Beginning"
Dave Mathews "Crash (Whole album)"
Dire straits "Fade to Black" (or most anything)
Eagles "Hotel California" on Hell freezes over
Joni mitchell "Good Bye Pork Pie Hat"
Beck "Sea Change Whole album"
Wildlight "Twirl Me"
Most James Taylor Albums.
Nicolas Jarr "Time For Us"
Big Wild "Venice Venture" for bass.
And more.....
"Shape of my heart" from "my songs"
Sting
"Two Skaters" The Nits
I enjoyed your design of crossovers. I was wondering how much is the power rating and would sell a pair of speakers , how will cost me -a couple coats of lacquer will do iy nicely
The album noonday dream by ben howard is truly sublime