# What are your audiophile recordings for system evaluation and setup? **URL:** \ **Category:** Music\ **Created:** [June 21, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269 "2018-06-21T14:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![amsco15](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/amsco15/32/28_2.png) [@amsco15](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/amsco15)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/41 "2018-11-08T19:11:09Z")
I worked with my favorite non-audiophile commercial sound reinforcement system designer on a small college auditorium system in the south suburbs of Chicago. The space was older and constrained so my designer was limited in speaker choices and location. He ended up re-using existing openings but significantly upgraded the speakers and added a very well placed sub. The owner saw the system, after install, and demanded a meeting with all involved. Never even turned it on. He claimed it cost him $250K plus to get nothing more than what he already had. My sound reinforcement designer brought a Diana Krall CD! Turns out the guy was an older Jazz fan but didn’t know Diana Krall. He said, “That sounds like a real up-right bass.” We left with a happy client! ---
**Author:** ![brett66](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/brett66/32/92201_2.png) [@brett66](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/brett66)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/42 "2018-11-08T19:22:07Z")
How about Gonzo-style Moby Dick solo in a drum store? ---
**Author:** ![christophervalle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@christophervalle](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/christophervalle)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/43 "2018-11-08T19:32:01Z")
A sign at Preservation Hall in New Orleans. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/2X/4/4171b5a6e1fe8431934113ffb91faab42ca48cbf.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![tmurray1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tmurray1/32/12362_2.png) [@tmurray1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tmurray1)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/44 "2018-11-08T19:39:41Z")
Party on Wayne. ---
**Author:** ![brett66](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/brett66/32/92201_2.png) [@brett66](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/brett66)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/45 "2018-11-08T19:49:25Z")
Sort of like - $5 if I do it, $10 if you watch and $15 if you help ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/46 "2018-11-08T19:52:05Z")
I don’t know if I own any “audiophile” recordings. But I do have recordings that I think sound great and I listen to them over and over and over, often the same track when I’m making a change in gear or positioning. ---
**Author:** ![hthaller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3d9bf3/32.png) [@hthaller](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/hthaller)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/47 "2018-11-08T23:40:00Z")
Good one! ---
**Author:** ![cardri](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/cardri/32/2201_2.png) [@cardri](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/cardri)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/48 "2018-11-09T16:18:15Z")
Jesse Cook - One World for percussion, guitar, imaging and instrument separation Neal Pert - drum solo on the RUSH R40 album Norman Brown - After the Storm - sound stage and instrument separation Chesky Audiophile SACD for testing system - great tests for 3D imaging and noise floor Cindy Bradley - Bloom ---
**Author:** ![JeffofArabica](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jeffofarabica/32/135_2.png) [@JeffofArabica](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/JeffofArabica)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2018, 6:37am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/49 "2018-11-24T06:37:34Z")
@bruce-in-philly So, I picked up this exact CD based on your recommendation. THANK YOU! Wow, what a great compilation - extremely well performed, recorded and mastered. What a treat. ---
**Author:** ![jazzophile](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jazzophile/32/5347_2.png) [@jazzophile](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jazzophile)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/50 "2018-12-04T14:07:24Z")
For fun, throw in some ok to bad recordings. I find audiophile systems have two distinct sounds: revealing and forgiving. I once had a forgiving system that made just ok recordings sound amazing, and really everything sounded equally amazing. I would describe my system now as revealing, where bad recordings sound bad and great recordings sound great. Have fun! ---
**Author:** ![dlee](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dlee/32/250800_2.png) [@dlee](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dlee)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/51 "2018-12-04T16:01:00Z")
![Screenshot_20181204-075848_Amazon%20Shopping](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/2X/9/982be7d96ccf480a232e62dcf3c7092118e8fa43.jpeg) Smoke 'em if you got 'em. 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![efete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@efete](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/efete)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/52 "2018-12-04T21:08:21Z")
I keep coming back to the SACD version of Yellowjackets’ ‘LifeCycle’. ---
**Author:** ![Clive197](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/clive197/32/7215_2.png) [@Clive197](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Clive197)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/53 "2018-12-18T14:57:12Z")
This has been one of my go-to albums for many years now. ---
**Author:** ![hthaller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3d9bf3/32.png) [@hthaller](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/hthaller)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 3:31am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/54 "2018-12-19T03:31:27Z")
Amen! The studio efforts, while groundbreaking at the time, always felt a bit “stiff.” This was a performance that captured the chemistry between these musicians and with pretty darn good SQ for the time. Mail]([https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986)) for Windows 10 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmatist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Rhythmatist](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Rhythmatist)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 6:58am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/55 "2018-12-19T06:58:47Z")
Great choices. BTO out for #1 is a long time favourite of mine. Blue Collar is awesome too. Love Nils Lofgren Acoustic Live - Ted hit out of the park there. Here are a few Tom Petty Live Anthology Ladies and Gentleman & Nightwatchman Dave Grusin Homage to Duke (incredible studio recording) Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic Take it Easy Paint it Blue Songs of the Rolling Stones Wild Horses & Honky Tonk Woman Grace Jones Slave to the Rhythm Hot blooded mix Lynrd Skynrd Endagered Species Sweat Home Alabama John Martyn Glory Box Bob Dylan Oh Mercy The Man in the long Black Coat James Brown People Get Upnand drive your funky soul Black Eyed Peas They Dont want music Julie Driscoll Brian auger the trinity Season of the Witch Muddy Waters Folk Singer Good Morning Little School Girl Enjoy ---
**Author:** ![Clive197](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/clive197/32/7215_2.png) [@Clive197](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Clive197)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/56 "2018-12-19T14:33:48Z")
I also use Dire Straits “Communique” and Hugh Masekela’s “Hope” ---
**Author:** ![quintanilla](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/quintanilla/32/9767_2.png) [@quintanilla](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/quintanilla)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/57 "2018-12-21T16:29:33Z")
Chicken Run Movie Soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![lonson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/lonson/32/249792_2.png) [@lonson](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/lonson)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/58 "2018-12-21T16:45:20Z")
In general for system evaluation and setup I use recordings I made of two bands I was a drummer within recorded in my then garage apartment space. I knew the room, the equipment, the players, and I have listened to these on every system I’ve had since 1985 or so. They tell me a LOT. The other constant is I use not necessarily “audiophile” recordings but recordings I’ve heard for years on many systems such as John Coltrane “Crescent,” Charles Mingus “East Coasting,” Miles Davis “Miles Smiles,” or Jimi Hendrix “Band of Gypsys.” These tell me a lot as well. There is one recent recording I think is very well recorded and mastered on both LP and cd that I know put into the evaluation rotation: Jose James “Yesterday I Had the Blues,” a Billie Holiday tribute album on Blue Note. ---
**Author:** ![akubacki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akubacki/32/21479_2.png) [@akubacki](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akubacki)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/59 "2019-03-01T16:35:36Z")
When you set up your system or need to check its performance, what recordings do you use? ---
**Author:** ![ronaldwanders](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronaldwanders/32/20124_2.png) [@ronaldwanders](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/ronaldwanders)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269/60 "2019-03-01T18:12:00Z")
I use my Qobuz list… You can try that @akubacki… > [@For Qobuz users](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/for-qobuz-users/9370): > > I’ve been a Qobuz (Hi-Fi Sublime+) user for many years already. Thru the years I compiled a couple of audiophile playlists. Just by browsing other lists, mostly on Spotify. But also by reading stuff on Stereophile and whatnot. The ones that I liked and were available on Qobuz and halfway decent sounding I added to the list. Because it’s a beautiful saturday today I will share these lists with y’all. Each list has about 100 entries. Happy listening… [https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/1595257](https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/1595257)[https…](https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/1598115) [Previous page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-are-your-audiophile-recordings-for-system-evaluation-and-setup/6269.md?page=4)