Best Songs for testing stereos

Damn. I forgot about Jeff Beck. I had Wired. It s a bit slow, but they are quality sounds.

 

I haven't listened to KMFDM in awhile - will break it out today!

 

They never get old.

 

Rush, musically, was flawless, but the voice of that singer was like nails on a chalkboard for me.

 

Geddy definitely loses some high notes over the years. Clockwork Angels [their last] is among their best - worth a listen if you haven't.

 

Gel is a good one.
Would suggest:
Van Halen - Right Now (already mentioned)
https://youtu.be/DLQawHJ38Sc
NIN - Head Like a Hole
https://youtu.be/cV2EUUF47Ms

 

Pick whatever song you're most familiar with, the more you know about the music in it the better chances you have at picking up the good and the bad of the stereo.

My #1 picks are Schism and Aenema by Tool

 

Truth!

 

I always test my stereo and speaker connections with some Ben Harper - Ground on Down

 

He is among my favorites, this Live At Ronnie Scott's show was awesome;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoQHnzHrqgE

 

Yes!!!!

To add to your well chosen suggestion, Glory by KMFDM is adrenaline boosting madness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBxYpOEoLcM

 

https://youtu.be/bRyyoQo0qj4

 

da rude sandstorm

 

If you’re testing a 12 or 15” sub..
https://youtu.be/XqBo7PyhV5I

 

You know when Robert Plant is there to watch and Clapton gets talked into a few songs it is a show not to miss!

I build Home Theatre and this is one on the Demo Playlist every time.
Jeff Beck is the real deal and a Hot Rod guy too!

 

Fair point but some songs have terrible recording quality. A lot of punk is fuzzy. In Utero, as much as I love it, isn't the cleanest album.

 

Maybe but something you are already familiar with can be more revealing than anything else I think no matter how bad the recording is.

Also I have a whole slew of material that sounds horrible on many systems but on others is amazing so.....

The Grateful Dead-American Beauty or CSNY-Deja-Vu are just the first 2 that come to mind.
Both early 70s bands Albums for the recording quality and technique as state of the art in that time.
Marshall Tucker Band-Where we all Belong is another.

These were all recorded with a sense of intimacy that often is interpreted as limited dynamics but on a revealing neutral system are almost chilling really!

 

Or

Or


also agree on the suggestions for Sublime and Bohemian Rhapsody.

 

Anything from Joe Satriani.
Gorillaz
Volbeat
Eric Johnson

 

Get It On - Power Station
https://youtu.be/O2vHbXI2p4k

And crank it! If you listen to this first with headphones, even at normal volume, you will really understand this pick!

Oh, I miss the 80's....

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c4JqvK3Fwn8

Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath

Best when stupid loud.

 

We have a winner!!!!!!

 

My System...
Kenwood DDX 9907Xr in to JL TWK88 to 2 JL HD600/4 running an active 3 way of Focal K2 Power. JL HD 750/1 running JL stealthbox for Tundra Crew.

Steely Dan is always impeccably mastered.
-Rikki Don't Lose that Number - I think it's a marimba in the beginning of the song...and if you're system is good...you'll hear things you haven't heard before.

Amply Mammal - Spacecrunkadelix, Pt. 1
Rezz and Blanke - Mixed Signals

Fleetwood Mac - Seven Wonders, Tusk, Go Your Own Way...

Depeche Mode - Everything Counts

Deadmau5 - Raise Your Weapon, Strobe

Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall Pt.1, Happiest Days of Our Lives, Another Brick in The Wall Pt.2...all three tracks at full volume. Shine On You Crazy Diamond Parts 1-5.

Madonna - Holiday

Guns n Roses - Welcome To The Jungle

NIN - The Fragile...the whole album.

I could go on and on....

 

My fav is OutKast speakerboxxx intro. My first car had 3 kicker l7 10s in a 6.5 cubic foot box and a jl audio 2000 watt amp.
https://youtu.be/IIkatbbVNIc

 

https://youtu.be/jULlldN64f4

Some non-rap to test your subs....

I’m trapped on a plane from Chicago back to So Cal and most of these songs are great for headphones....Thx for the thread.

 

Mentioned a couple times, anything Steely Dan. Keyboards, piano, horns, guitar riffs, a little bit of everything, with great recording.

https://youtu.be/39AcK9rcS2A

 

cook em.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw6GIEGpVdc

 

Not usually on my playlist but on a good one in my option
madonna immaculate collection Album
Great range of sound on a good system

 

I don't entirely disagree with you, but quality is subjective to the end user, hence my comment. Familiarity is so much more important for us not in the pro-audio industry or musicians; we look for what we consider to be the best sound for our chosen playlist.

And even if you are an audiophile, we all have more than one song that we love and know to the last note, so it is unlikely that you'd choose a poorly recorded piece for actual proven quality metrics.

All in all choose whatever you like, you will anyway perhaps you'll find a great recommendation along the way, which is also the purpose of this thread.