Music Demo

[a_mattison]

Ok, my HK AVR-635 arrives Monday and I want to put together a killer CD to check out the 2-channel performance with. I have some of my own favorites (ex. Nora Jones, Disturbed, Nickelback, Blood Sweat and Tears...etc.), but would like some suggestions on some well mastered tunes that would showcase my system. ...NO COUNTRY...anything else goes.....

Thanks,

Aaron

EDIT - I'm guessing this question has been asked thousands of time, but I have been somewhat unsuccessful finding what I am looking for.

[Toxis]

wait, put together a new CD? You plan on burning a CD? I doubt the music choice will matter because it'll sound like booty.

[a_mattison]

wait, put together a new CD? You plan on burning a CD? I doubt the music choice will matter because it'll sound like booty.

Don't really want to start the burnt CD debate.......

Ok, maybe we'll change the question...Assuming I use all original CD's, what would you suggest....I was looking for suggestions of some good quality musical recordings to show off my system a little. I have plenty of music, but not too much that I feel are high quality recordings that might be good for checking out different characteristics of my system. I like a wide variety of music and wondered if I am missing anything good.

[steveinaz]

Steely Dan "2 against nature" then...

Go to your local Target store and go to the CD's by the hallmark cards, buy Lifescapes "Smooth Jazz" CD. "DDD" recording, 24 bit. It's outstanding for evaluating. $9.99

[ESAVINON]

frida soundtrack is a well recorded cd with lots of stereo separation and high dynamic range. It mostly consist of acoustic instruments.

[a_mattison]

Sweet! Thanks!

[TroyD]

Telarc's - Round up.

BDT

[Driver]

i just bought a hdcd version of van halen's diver down, i was quite impressed, now im not a big van halen fan but this is good. also jean michel jarre's aero is great for sound, its a cd/dvd package, the dvd is just used for the music - theres really nothing to see apart from a pair of eyes, but the music is in 5.1 dts / or dd. the cd has been made to a high resolution, a thing they call super stereo. in short - aero, blows me away for quality.

[heiney9]

wait, put together a new CD? You plan on burning a CD? I doubt the music choice will matter because it'll sound like booty.

Why? :confused:

[Toxis]

compressed audio is the devil. Period. Yes I've done A-B comparisons and can hear the difference between an MP3 cd at 320k and the original. Personally, there's no point in having quality equipment if you're gonna start out with a crappy disc. It'd be like buying a Ferrari and only putting in 87 octane gas "because it's cheap."

[heiney9]

compressed audio is the devil. Period. Yes I've done A-B comparisons and can hear the difference between an MP3 cd at 320k and the original. Personally, there's no point in having quality equipment if you're gonna start out with a crappy disc. It'd be like buying a Ferrari and only putting in 87 octane gas "because it's cheap."


Ah...ok I see where you are coming from now. I assumed he meant making his won personal demo cd with regular .wav files, not lossy dl'd music. I agree 100% with you about Mp3's and the like. Not worthy in any audiophile system.

H9

[adam2434]

Steve's thread below discusses some excellent reference recordings.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39722

[a_mattison]

Ah...ok I see where you are coming from now. I assumed he meant making his won personal demo cd with regular .wav files, not lossy dl'd music. I agree 100% with you about Mp3's and the like. Not worthy in any audiophile system.

H9


I didn't say I was using MP3's. You can mix songs on a burnt CD without compressing the data.

I did get the suggestions that I was looking for and can't wait until Monday.