CD inspiration please.

If all seems to have gone to pot with my stereo, I might reach for the euphonic Chris Isaak - why not 'Wicked Game'?

And, despite running it on repeat at a Bristol Show, I can still listen to '57 Channels (And Nothin' On).

These are examples of touchstone tracks - if these don't 'work' then something is seriously awry with the fabric of the universe and the only solution must be a millimetric adjustment of something or a teralitic ingestion of alcohol.

I'd play something along these lines if someone was picking up a pair of speakers I'd sold to them on eBay and I wanted to confirm proper operation - rather than offer any 'dem' opportunity.

If I'm trying to judge a component or system I like to distract myself as I often find the act of concentration accentuates aspect of playback which aren't, in the long-term, important to me.

At some stage I will play something simple but this is both a test of equipment and mood.

'Who knows where the Time Goes?' (Fairport Convention), 'Clerk Saunders' (June Tabor) - these only work for me if I entirely ignore the sound and listen to the voice/words/music.

And (finally) all this money should perhaps offer the possibility of expanded musical horizons. One example - I'd listened to Janis Joplin for years and felt I should admire her. I just didn't.

A few years ago I re-listened to 'I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!' and it's been love ever since.

Probably not a popular choice with the owners of refined systems but - it's What Tiggers Like Best.

Yes burned from iTunes. The quality is more than adequate for the purpose.

James,

funny you mention Jimmy Smith's The Cat; Last person who asked why I still had "those reely things" in the system was shown why with a demonstration first of a couple of tracks from the CD, then the same tracks off an original 7 1/2 ips pre-recorded reel of The Cat.  She understood after about a minute of the reels spinning up...

Anyway, probably time to move this thread into the Music Room.

Thak you Simon for your list . At least Pink Floyds remastered box set is wrapped up under the christmas tree . Will check the rest out !    Cheers Peter

Yes, but do you LIKE to listen to it.....?

When you come in after a day's work, does it help you unwind, make you relax....?

'Who knows where the Time Goes?'  - the trouble with using that is the song is so absolutely wonderful that I'd just stop auditioning the hi-fi and listen to the music. 

Glad you picked up on Janis - she really was a star, perhaps not as slick as Jefferson Airplane, but she certainly provided more the Cheap Thrills and her final album was a Pearl. I used to buy her albums as they hit the shops in my youth and it's great to hear that you were prepare to Try, Just a Little Bit Harder and found out what a great record I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! is. It was when I first her heard Take Another Little Piece of My Heart that I has hooked. 

All the best, Guy

@ OP - some of my favourite songs would not win 5* for SQ, so when I chose Naim components for my system, the thing that helped me decide was that it got excellent results with less than perfect input. HMHB are my favourite band, but even I can't claim they make audiophile recordings; however, if a system didn't let me enjoy listening to their songs then what good would it do me.

We all like various bits of music, so make sure the system you choose can reproduce your favourites really well. I think you'll be hard pushed to find another brand that is as successful at this as Naim.  

"He who would pick a pun would pick a purse."

I had Pearl back when it was new and liked it all well enough (apart from Mercedes Benz) but I didn't get how fine a singer she was.

When a friend brought down my new 555PS and NAP 300 I had the unedifying experience of him talking through 'Who knows where the Time Goes".

The roses are doing well this year.