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  1. 03-22-2012 09:40 PM #1
    drummer86
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    Default Favorite reference material?

    Did some searching on this but I know tastes change as new things come out. Just wondering what everyone's go-to reference material is. Favorite music tracks? Favorite Blu-ray scenes? When you're checking out new gear what's the first thing you reach for?
    Display: LG 47" LCD | AVR: Marantz SR5005 | BD: Panasonic BDT-210 | SACD: Oppo 980 | Game: XBOX360 |

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    "The trouble with music education in general is that people are taught too much to to have respect for music when they should be taught to love it instead."
    ~Igor Stravinsky
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  2. 03-22-2012 09:49 PM #2
    Rick88
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    I have several reference recordings I use each time I evaluate new gear, but the one I go to first most of the time is Holly Cole's "Don't Smoke In Bed" CD...

    Also, any of Diana Krall's SACD's are some of my favorites...

    I have to leave for work right now, or I'd post some others... Perhaps tomorrow...
    "Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music." ~ Ronald Reagan

    "If you don't know the blues... there's no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music." ~ Keith Richards
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  3. 03-22-2012 09:50 PM #3
    thsmith
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    Vinyl poco blue and grey.

    Digital doc Powell doc Powell - studio master
    Last edited by thsmith; 03-22-2012 at 09:52 PM.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs

    Ofc: Wright WLA12 preamp: Anthem Amp 1: Pio Elite DV-79AVI: Airport Express: CAL Sigma II DAC: PA LS90 sonicaps and mills
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  4. 03-22-2012 09:52 PM #4
    gdb
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    Playboy magazine, mostly. JK Steely Dan stuff, mostly.
    No matter how lost you are.......music can bring you home. (there are a few exceptions, however)
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  5. 03-22-2012 09:53 PM #5
    gdb
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    Had any good blue crabs yet ????
    No matter how lost you are.......music can bring you home. (there are a few exceptions, however)
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  6. 03-22-2012 09:54 PM #6
    gudnoyez
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    Steely Dan stuff, mostly.[/QUOTE]
    I Agree I like to bring AJA along for the demo and the song of choice is Black Cow
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  7. 03-22-2012 10:00 PM #7
    gdb
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    OOOOH OOOH ! Iforgot, a few tracks from Brothers in Arms also serve as benchmarks.
    No matter how lost you are.......music can bring you home. (there are a few exceptions, however)
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  8. 03-22-2012 10:01 PM #8
    hochpt21
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    Artist...Pink Floyd
    Album...Meddle (vinyl)
    Track...Fearless
    2-channel
    Sources: Pro-ject 2.9 wood with Grado Gold cartridge; Squeezebox Duet; Oppo BDP-83
    Amplification: PS Audio GCPH; PS Audio DLIII(Cullen mods IV); Parasound Halo P3; B & K Reference 200.2
    Speakers: Polk - LSi15's(db sub mod)

    HT
    Amplification: Sony - STR-DG1000; Outlaw 200 Mono; Speakers: Polk - CS2, Monitor 70's, RC80i's; Video: Optoma HD20; FAVI HD-100

    Work desk rig: Audioengine A2's; Jolida Glass FX DAC Mini
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  9. 03-22-2012 10:05 PM #9
    PreCd
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    I am auditioning my newly spiked SDA2Bs at this time with Steely Dan: aja. I like the following:

    Adele: 19
    Diana Krall
    Pink Floyd: Meddle (very well recorded)

    I have a few obscure pieces I will put in to listen to depending on what I am looking for.
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  10. 03-22-2012 10:12 PM #10
    gudnoyez
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    [QUOTE=PreCd;1745066]I am auditioning my newly spiked SDA2Bs at this time with Steely Dan: aja. I like the following:


    Pink Floyd: Meddle (very well recorded)

    AJA turn it up a bit when Black Cow comes on Best track on that CD my favorite anyways, Meddle awesome recording also Floyds Obscured By Clouds is another well recorded one
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  11. 03-22-2012 10:29 PM #11
    drummer86
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    Quote Originally Posted by gdb View Post
    Had any good blue crabs yet ????
    Haha no but I'm counting down the days until they're in season. Another month or so...
    Display: LG 47" LCD | AVR: Marantz SR5005 | BD: Panasonic BDT-210 | SACD: Oppo 980 | Game: XBOX360 |

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    "The trouble with music education in general is that people are taught too much to to have respect for music when they should be taught to love it instead."
    ~Igor Stravinsky
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  12. 03-22-2012 10:38 PM #12
    falconcry72
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    Almost all the Steely Dan albums are very well recorded, but I'd put the top three in this order:

    - Two Against Nature
    - Gaucho
    - Aja

    Gaucho and Aja are really comparable quality wise, but Two Against Nature is in a league of its own. All three won Grammys for best sound engineering of the year.
    2-Channel:

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    HT:

    Sources: HTPC, FiOS, Oppo 103
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  13. 03-22-2012 11:34 PM #13
    gdb
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    Quote Originally Posted by drummer86 View Post
    Haha no but I'm counting down the days until they're in season. Another month or so...
    Warm weather brought the season early....lots of crabs being caught right now and they can't find enough pickers to work the plants !
    No matter how lost you are.......music can bring you home. (there are a few exceptions, however)
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  14. 03-23-2012 03:27 PM #14
    steveinaz
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    Lifescapes - Smooth Jazz and Mexico (DDD 24 bit sourced CD's)
    Sara Evans - Restless (for excellent female vocals)
    Steely Dan - Pick one, though I mostly use 2 against Nature
    Donald Fagan - Pick one
    A couple of 24bit/96k flac albums I have from the Linn record store (excellent dynamics, superb recordings)
    Sarah Mclachlan - superb recordings, beautiful voice
    Last edited by steveinaz; 03-23-2012 at 03:29 PM.

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    Stop dissecting and start listening. - Steve in Arizona
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  15. 03-24-2012 10:02 AM #15
    67jason
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    I almost always use music as my reference when making changes to my system. Most often used are:

    Depeche Mode - violator and ultra albums
    NiN - prety hate machine
    morrissey - bona drag


    I have never really used movie scenes as reference material for myself after I have made changes to my system, however I do frequently use action scenes from blu's to show off my system, Iron movies, transformers movies, LoTR movies, star wars are frequent favorites.
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  16. 03-24-2012 04:45 PM #16
    Gatecrasher
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    I really can't nail down one or even a few albums or songs I would call a favorite "reference" since I have thousands of CDs and even more lossless music in my HTPC but I was playing one today that just rocked the block. It was the Clash "I'm Not Down" from the Remastered London Calling 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition.

    "Moving" is the only way to describe it. Unbelievably crisp and powerful.

    Name: 972182.jpg Views: 118 Size: 15.5 KB

    The 2004 remaster of what is considered by many to be one of the best rock albums of all-time is fabulous.
    POLK AUDIO 10.2 (RT5000x2) SYSTEM
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  17. 03-24-2012 04:52 PM #17
    halo71
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    Donald Fagan-Kamakiriad
    Flim and the BB's-This is a recording, Tricycle
    Dream Theater-Pull Me Under

    to name a few.....
    --Gary--
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  18. 03-24-2012 05:04 PM #18
    bmbguy
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    Quote Originally Posted by halo71 View Post
    Donald Fagan-Kamakiriad
    Flim and the BB's-This is a recording, Tricycle
    Dream Theater-Pull Me Under

    to name a few.....
    Gary, just curious -- would you consider other Flim/BBs stuff in the same league, or just specifically that recording? I've got a copy of 'Neon' and 'Tunnel', as well as Billy Barber's 'Lighthouse', all on the DMP label.
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  19. 03-24-2012 05:14 PM #19
    halo71
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    Not sure really as I have not heard any of their other recordings. I do have a 3rd cd of theirs 'Big Notes' and it is of the same caliber I would say.
    --Gary--
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  20. 03-24-2012 05:17 PM #20
    bmbguy
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    That's cool -- just thought I'd ask. I picked up the Flim/BBs stuff because I liked the Billy Barber album so well. Long ago.
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  21. 03-24-2012 05:20 PM #21
    jmwest1970
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    Spies, Music Of Espionage is one of my favorites. The beginning of track 3, Interlude, will test the dynamics of any speaker.
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  22. 03-24-2012 05:22 PM #22
    halo71
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    Definitely some good stuff! I know they seem to be sorta obscure. I don't know many that have ever heard of them before. My Dad got me into them several years back.
    --Gary--
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  23. 03-24-2012 06:58 PM #23
    drummer86
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    Great responses, guys! I'm partial to the Left disc of NIN - The Fragile. Really well recorded IMO.

    Anyone have favorite scenes from movies they they always carry along when checking out HT rigs?
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  24. 03-25-2012 05:01 PM #24
    headrott
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    Ryuichi Sakamoto "Left Handed Dream". This is one of the best sounding redbook CD's I've heard. Very dynamic, clear and reference quality. Outstanding quality music as well.

    Greg
    Last edited by headrott; 03-25-2012 at 05:19 PM.
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  25. 03-30-2012 08:55 AM #25
    ROHfan
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    Quote Originally Posted by bmbguy View Post
    Gary, just curious -- would you consider other Flim/BBs stuff in the same league, or just specifically that recording? I've got a copy of 'Neon' and 'Tunnel', as well as Billy Barber's 'Lighthouse', all on the DMP label.
    I own their entire catalog and I think "This is a Recording" is their finest by far. That said, I think the drums are sometimes a little too "up front" in the mix. Could be a Bill Berg ego thing.
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  26. 03-30-2012 10:50 AM #26
    bmbguy
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    Quote Originally Posted by ROHfan View Post
    I own their entire catalog and I think "This is a Recording" is their finest by far. That said, I think the drums are sometimes a little too "up front" in the mix. Could be a Bill Berg ego thing.
    That one's on my list. Just picked up 'New Pants', but haven't listened to it yet. 'Pants' is not on the DMP label.
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