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.