Good reference music

[Rike255]

I'm looking for some really good reference music to "test" my speaker setup. I'd like to find things to cover all the bases (male vocals, female vocals, deep bass, clean sound). Not sure what else to look for really.

I already have/use:

- Hotel California
- Barbarian Horde (Gladiator soundtrack)

Both of those are in stereo sound, like most music I listen to. But I'd like to find some music in 5.1 that's similar as well.

Thanks in advance!

(Also, sorry if this is in the wrong section...there's no music section and I figured since I'm looking for reference music it would fit here)

[Rike255]

Ok I feel dumb now...I just saw the board that says "Blu-Ray Music and HQ Music".

Sorry, feel free to move this mods.

[Clark Kent]

You are in the right area. I would check out the recent 20th anniversary edition of Jennifer Warnes' Famous Blue Raincoat. A perfect showcase of pinpoint female vocals. It projects an incredible stereo image on better speakers. If you are SACD-capable, I would check out Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon in 5.1 surround.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Get yourself a copy of Legends of Jazz...

John

[triangleAV]

Eventhough it is a few years old, buy The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" DVD.
It is still an awesome 5.1 disc that will give your speakers a workout.

[Ozz]

Greetings,

Patricia Barber - Modern Cool, Verse. (SACD and/or CD)

Fantasy Jazz Collection ( JVC, K2 Encoding, Same as XRCD.) These feature the likes of Gene Ammons, Miles Davis, John Coltrane. Red Garland, Sonny Rollins (if you like this style)

Holly Cole - Don't Smoke in Bed

Cassandra Wilson - Blue Light Till Dawn

True Stereo - Uncompressed Analog Recordings (Naim Label, Sampler)

Stew Cutler - Insignia (Naim Label)

All of these are redbook 2 channel audiophile recordings that will put your system through its paces.

Dire straits - Brothers in Arms 20th anniversary SACD/CD hybrid is another 5.1/2channel disc of great quality

The Police - Every Breath You Take (the classics) DTS 5.1 Surround

Steely Dan - Gaucho, DTS 5.1 Surround

TOTO - TOTO IV, 5.1/2channel SACD

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

You are in the right area. I would check out the recent 20th anniversary edition of Jennifer Warnes' Famous Blue Raincoat. A perfect showcase of pinpoint female vocals. It projects an incredible stereo image on better speakers. If you are SACD-capable, I would check out Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon in 5.1 surround.

I second this recommendation of Famous Blu Raincoat, but get it on vinyl!

I also recommend anything by French synthesist, Jean-Michell Jarre, especially Oxygene and Equinox on 200g MFSL. And the Vince Guaraldi Trio's A Charlie Brown Christmas and Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheous (get the 45RPM versions). Plus lots of other records I can't think of off the top of my head! Oh, any early Dire Straits!

[chriharr]

I say Toto's "Africa" is a good song to test your 5.1ch setup, of course play the CD in Prologic 2 "Music Mode" sounds sweet, it's definitely a reference quality track. Hotel California is a great song too

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Ozz

The Police - Every Breath You Take (the classics) DTS 5.1 Surround

This one is also available on Super Audio CD and well worth the upgrade in fidelity.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by richteer

I second this recommendation of Famous Blu Raincoat, but get it on vinyl!

I also recommend anything by French synthesist, Jean-Michell Jarre, especially Oxygene and Equinox on 200g MFSL. And the Vince Guaraldi Trio's A Charlie Brown Christmas and Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheous (get the 45RPM versions). Plus lots of other records I can't think of off the top of my head! Oh, any early Dire Straits!

So is Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter, but I only have it on CD.

Also some superb remasterd Loreena McKennitt CDs include:

The Mask and the Mirror
The Visit
The Book of Secrets

All of these are some of the Reference CDs that I use for the female voice.

Rich

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

So is Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter, but I only have it on CD.

Also some superb remasterd Loreena McKennitt CDs include:

The Mask and the Mirror
The Visit
The Book of Secrets

All of these are some of the Reference CDs that I use for the female voice.

Rich

Loreena McKennitt! YOU THE MAN!

John

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

So is Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter, but I only have it on CD.

A new remastered gold edition of that album is coming to cd soon.

[Psychonaut]

The Dead Can Dance SACDs are awesome as well. They had an uncanny knack for tickling the ranges of a speaker.

[Canada]

I would have to say Genisis: Invisible Touch: 5.1 mix SACD, Brothers in Arms 5.1 Mix SACD and Top Gun SACD stereo. Loreena McKinnet's: Mummers Dance, The Highwayman

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Canada

I would have to say Genisis: Invisible Touch: 5.1 mix SACD, Brothers in Arms 5.1 Mix SACD and Top Gun SACD stereo. Loreena McKinnet's: Mummers Dance, The Highwayman

Agreed on BIA. But, I was disappointed in Invisible Touch. It sounds thin and compressed to me.

[RBFC]

DVD-A:

In Absentia Porcupine Tree

Gaucho Steely Dan

Swing Live Pizzarelli, et. al. Chesky Records


SACD:

Machine Head Deep Purple

Mondo Head Kodo Drummers

Turangalila Symphony Chailly (conductor) Decca Records


I included a bit of everything, so whatever your musical taste, you might find a couple that you enjoy. All of these are very good sonically.

Lee

[jkwest]

Originally Posted by Psychonaut

The Dead Can Dance SACDs are awesome as well. They had an uncanny knack for tickling the ranges of a speaker.

yeah...good luck finding them at a decent price, though...

[tatertaut]

Originally Posted by Psychonaut

The Dead Can Dance SACDs are awesome as well. They had an uncanny knack for tickling the ranges of a speaker.

With that avatar, .. how can you not mention Abigail or Conspiracy

[Jello]

Originally Posted by RBFC

SACD:

Machine Head Deep Purple

I was going to pick this up but saw some poor reviews on it and it is pricey (Japanese import) ... is it that good?

[dannyjl]

Check out amazon.co.uk - you can get it for about $20 shipped from their marketplace. I recently picked up several R.E.M. dvd-a disks from dvd.co.uk - Out of Time, Automatic for the People, Adventures in Hi-Fi, Reveal and they sound fantastic, that is if you're into this group. These were cheaper than stateside prices even with the shipping. Sting's Brand New Day is one of the best I've heard along with many of the Genesis SACD's. Amazing to listen to the really old stuff and hear it sounding better than ever. Electronic pioneers like Jean Michel Jarre's Aero (dvd with dts track)and Kraftwerk's Minimum Maximum (probably the most expensive sacd in the world now going for $800 on ebay) , also dvd, are second to none in wall to wall sound and will blow you away even if you're not into this style and show your speakers off like a fireworks display. And if you're looking for some classical music to challenge your system then by all means get the Telarc 1812 Overture SACD. Happy listening.