I have found some lovely music looking at peoples own choices for their favourites, but wondered what people recognise as their favourite pieces of hi-res music and would suggest as reference examples, as say we ask what reference blu-ray disc shows off their system the best for picture and audio.
A lot of people have mentioned Carmen Gomez : Thousand Shades of Blue, which sounds great but the music isn't quite my cup of tea.
For me I like both Tommy and Quadrophenia as 24/96, Core by Stone Temple Pilots 24/96, TDKR soundtrack 24/192, Privateering Mark Knopfler 24/96 and more.
I am preparing my best 10-20 hi-res tracks for an S400 demo at both the dealer and at home so it got me thinking, what would be those best reference tracks and whose are the favourites out there so I can buy some more to experience and try new musical flavours.
Cheers
Dan43
Posted on: 06 January 2014 by winkyincanada
I'd be wary of just using "reference" HD tracks for the demo, unless that's all you listen to. See if the speakers can make some of the more poorly recorded, but still great, music come alive.
As well as Tommy, try "Live at Leeds". Another album I really like, but which is hard to listen to (harsh recording) is Smashing Pumpkins "Adore". A system that can make that listenable at reasonably high volumes is a system that would be easy to live with. Anything that can make Jeff Buckley's "Grace" listenable is also a remarkable system. Richard Thompson's "Electric" is great music, poorly recorded. See if the 400s can put some life back into it. Red Hot Chilli Peppers "Stadium Arcadium" is also a challenge.
Posted on: 07 January 2014 by Dan43
audiophile mastered version of NIN Hestation Marks :
http://nineinchnails.tumblr.co...red-in-two-different
For those interested here is a view on why NIN created and audiophile mastered version of Hesitation Marks, just an interesting read/insight. I have both versions downloaded.
Thanks
Dan43
Posted on: 09 January 2014 by m0omo0
Thanks for the reminder about NIN, Dan. I had skipped this.
As for "reference" tracks in HD, it's a bit early for me I'm afraid. Plus, I wouldn't do it this way anyway. When I'm to demo some piece of kit, I take a mix of favourites, of well-known tracks, of tracks that I'm currently listening to, a mix of genres, a few that I haven't listened to for a while as "surprises", etc. I would do just the same with regards to resolution. It's the music that counts, and the one I'd like to listen to changes with time, so...
ATB
Maurice
Posted on: 09 January 2014 by Dan43
Agreed I guess I was thinking along the lines of the reference disks that make blu-ray systems sing, and the movies are not always ones you would choose but you can decide if the quality is worth the purchase. Pacific Rim is a somewhat mediocre film but looks great and sounds amazing (and is flagged as a 2013 reference film for image/audio in a lot of reviews), kids loved it, so was a good blu-ray purchase all round.
I guess it should be re-written as what are the hires downloads that are giving the most pleasure along with great sound quality.
Listening to Eagles 192/24 today and some songs really come alive, others sound quite down in the mix with vocals just behind somewhat, proving even individual songs in albums can play slightly differently it seems.
I would just like to see what others are listening too that are providing that wow factor for them so I can try them and experience new styles of music with higher resolution, thats all really.
Best
Dan43
