Great CDs for auditioning speakers?

[Drew Tronvig]

I'm shopping for speakers--so far the Definitive Tech 7000 series is my
reference standard (I'd also love suggestions for speakers in the
~$2000-a-stereo-set range) and I would welcome suggestions for really
well-recorded natural-sounding CDs to audition speakers.

I would mostly be looking for acoustic content and mostly small groups,
so I can listen to individual instruments and voices. I have eclectic
tastes so almost any good music would be of interest. I am learning
string base so any acoustic or electric/acoustic bass content would be
great. Some other ideas:

Solo or small-group-accompanied piano
String quartets and/or piano-and-string quintets
Chamber groups
Small vocal groups, possibly in audible acoustic spaces,
such as chapels, etc.
Solo cello--a good test of smooth crossover
and phase consistency, I think
Great voices, solo or with small groups, mostly acoustic
String bands, Bluegrass or whatever
Organ, such as Taccota and Fugue, preferably with room sound

I dont think I'm going for surround sound but a couple of Superaudio
CDs would be interesting.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Drew

[I love Edsels]

Rock and Roll Animal, by Lou Reed
Early Rolling Stones (2002 remaster)


On 21 Dec 2004 13:40:15 -0800, "Drew Tronvig" >
wrote:

>I'm shopping for speakers--so far the Definitive Tech 7000 series is my
>reference standard (I'd also love suggestions for speakers in the
>~$2000-a-stereo-set range) and I would welcome suggestions for really
>well-recorded natural-sounding CDs to audition speakers.
>
>I would mostly be looking for acoustic content and mostly small groups,
>so I can listen to individual instruments and voices. I have eclectic
>tastes so almost any good music would be of interest. I am learning
>string base so any acoustic or electric/acoustic bass content would be
>great. Some other ideas:
>
>Solo or small-group-accompanied piano
>String quartets and/or piano-and-string quintets
>Chamber groups
>Small vocal groups, possibly in audible acoustic spaces,
>such as chapels, etc.
>Solo cello--a good test of smooth crossover
>and phase consistency, I think
>Great voices, solo or with small groups, mostly acoustic
>String bands, Bluegrass or whatever
>Organ, such as Taccota and Fugue, preferably with room sound
>
>I dont think I'm going for surround sound but a couple of Superaudio
>CDs would be interesting.
>
>Thanks for any suggestions,
>Drew

[dave weil]

On 21 Dec 2004 13:40:15 -0800, "Drew Tronvig" >
wrote:

>I'm shopping for speakers--so far the Definitive Tech 7000 series is my
>reference standard (I'd also love suggestions for speakers in the
>~$2000-a-stereo-set range) and I would welcome suggestions for really
>well-recorded natural-sounding CDs to audition speakers.
>
>I would mostly be looking for acoustic content and mostly small groups,
>so I can listen to individual instruments and voices. I have eclectic
>tastes so almost any good music would be of interest. I am learning
>string base so any acoustic or electric/acoustic bass content would be
>great. Some other ideas:
>
>Solo or small-group-accompanied piano
>String quartets and/or piano-and-string quintets
>Chamber groups
>Small vocal groups, possibly in audible acoustic spaces,
>such as chapels, etc.
>Solo cello--a good test of smooth crossover
>and phase consistency, I think
>Great voices, solo or with small groups, mostly acoustic
>String bands, Bluegrass or whatever
>Organ, such as Taccota and Fugue, preferably with room sound
>
>I dont think I'm going for surround sound but a couple of Superaudio
>CDs would be interesting.
>
>Thanks for any suggestions,
>Drew

One of the best under your guidelines - Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity
Session. Single mic'ed in a church in Toronto, done to DAT.

If you want a great brass quintet CD, try The Meridian Arts Ensemble's
Smart Went Crazy, recorded in a church in Amsterdam. The brass really
bites and is a great test of tweeters. They do avante-gardeish
classical and modern stuff (they do a medley of Zappa songs for the
first 5 songs). Here's the All Music Guide entry:

http://tinyurl.com/6j97o

I'm sorry tohear that their label has bit the dust, so I hope you can
find it. Very challenging sonics and music.

[jeffc]

"Drew Tronvig" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm shopping for speakers--so far the Definitive Tech 7000 series is my
> reference standard (I'd also love suggestions for speakers in the
> ~$2000-a-stereo-set range) and I would welcome suggestions for really
> well-recorded natural-sounding CDs to audition speakers.
>
> I would mostly be looking for acoustic content and mostly small groups,
> so I can listen to individual instruments and voices.

The Sheffield Drum Track is an absolute must-have in my opinion.

Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions
San Francisco Choral Artists - Star of Wonder (also has some good organ)
Michael Newman - Classical Guitarist (Sheffield Lab 10)
Holly Cole - Don't Smoke in Bed (good piano and voice)

[Colin B.]

"Drew Tronvig" > writes:
> I'm shopping for speakers--so far the Definitive Tech 7000 series is my
> reference standard (I'd also love suggestions for speakers in the
> ~$2000-a-stereo-set range) and I would welcome suggestions for really
> well-recorded natural-sounding CDs to audition speakers.

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
Laurie Anderson, Mr. Heartbreak
Jennifer Warnes, The Hunter
NOT John Scofield--the stuff is beautifully recorded, but always sounds
good, no matter how bad the speakers.

As for speakers, check out Thiel and Meadowlark.
Colin

[Todd H.]

"Drew Tronvig" > writes:
> I'm shopping for speakers--so far the Definitive Tech 7000 series is my
> reference standard (I'd also love suggestions for speakers in the
> ~$2000-a-stereo-set range) and I would welcome suggestions for really
> well-recorded natural-sounding CDs to audition speakers.
>
> I would mostly be looking for acoustic content and mostly small groups,
> so I can listen to individual instruments and voices. I have eclectic
> tastes so almost any good music would be of interest. I am learning
> string base so any acoustic or electric/acoustic bass content would be
> great. Some other ideas:
>
> Solo or small-group-accompanied piano
> String quartets and/or piano-and-string quintets
> Chamber groups
> Small vocal groups, possibly in audible acoustic spaces,
> such as chapels, etc.
> Solo cello--a good test of smooth crossover
> and phase consistency, I think
> Great voices, solo or with small groups, mostly acoustic
> String bands, Bluegrass or whatever
> Organ, such as Taccota and Fugue, preferably with room sound


One I always bring with me is
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

It's one of his earlier releases, and like so many of his releases,
they are SUPERBLY engineered, and with the range of intrumentation
from string bass to big band horns, it's always been a good litmus
test for me. I'm also thoroughly familiar with the CD, which I think
is important to become before using any piece of source material for
auditioning speakers.

Best Regards,
--
/"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign | Todd H
\ / | http://www.toddh.net/
X Promoting good netiquette | http://triplethreatband.com/
/ \ http://www.toddh.net/netiquette/ | "4 lines suffice."

[Ruud Broens]

"Drew Tronvig" > wrote in message
oups.com...
: I'm shopping for speakers--so far the Definitive Tech 7000 series is
my
: reference standard (I'd also love suggestions for speakers in the
: ~$2000-a-stereo-set range) and I would welcome suggestions for really
: well-recorded natural-sounding CDs to audition speakers.
:
: I would mostly be looking for acoustic content and mostly small
groups,
: so I can listen to individual instruments and voices. I have eclectic
: tastes so almost any good music would be of interest. I am learning
: string base so any acoustic or electric/acoustic bass content would be
: great. Some other ideas:
:
: Solo or small-group-accompanied piano
: String quartets and/or piano-and-string quintets
: Chamber groups
: Small vocal groups, possibly in audible acoustic spaces,
: such as chapels, etc.
: Solo cello--a good test of smooth crossover
: and phase consistency, I think
: Great voices, solo or with small groups, mostly acoustic
: String bands, Bluegrass or whatever
: Organ, such as Taccota and Fugue, preferably with room sound
:
: I dont think I'm going for surround sound but a couple of Superaudio
: CDs would be interesting.
:
: Thanks for any suggestions,
: Drew

A nice 5 minute quicky:

the track Born on a Sunday - Art Of Noise
cheers,
Rudy

[Rolavine]

>From: (Todd H.)

>
>One I always bring with me is
> Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

I once used Lovett's "I love everybody" it stopped me from buying a set of
B&W's that made Lyle sound like a whimp.