We share our secret demo tracks !
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- We each share 5 of our demo tracks. These are tracks we use regularly to evaluate or demo equipment. We are not saying that these are the best demo tracks, only that we use them all the time, so we are very familiar with them.
Vilip's Tracks:
Boz Scaggs from Dig - Thanks to You
Kat Edmonson from Way Down Low - Lucky
Gregory Porter from Liquid Spirit - Hey Laura
Boston Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg Cond. - Gustav Holst - The Planets - Jupiter, the bringer of Jollity
Yazoo from Reconnected Live - Ode to Boy (Live)
Jay's Tracks:
Flight of the cosmic hippo - Béla Fleck, The Flecktones
Hey Now - London Grammar
My Favourite things - youn sun nah
Hot Spade - Oh Jun Sung
Adrian's tracks:
Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session. Mining for Gold
Christian McBride - Gettin' to It. Night Train
Michael Brook - Soundtrack Albino Alligator
Gary Karr - Adagio D'Albinioni
Ryan Adams - Live at Carnegie Hall. Oh my Sweet Carolina
Charles Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Manuel De Falla. Three Cornered Hat
BONUS:
So Do I - Christy Moore
Please SHARE your favourite tracks with us!
As always, we would love to hear from you, so please leave your comments and feedback below
Audio Excellence Inc. is a high end audio/video store in Markham, Ontario, Canada, a suburb of Toronto. We've been in business since 1991.
Check out our interviews with designers like Daryl Wilson of Wilson Audio, Paul McGowan of PS Audio, Paolo Tezzon of Sonus faber, Wendell Diller of Magnepan and others.
If you liked the video, please subscribe and turn on the notification so you will know when we upload a new video.
Our website is www.audioexcellence.ca
Contacts:
Adrian@audioexcellence.ca
Vilip@audioexcellence.ca
Jay@audioexcellence.ca
Just want to thank you guys for doing this video!!!... it's always great to find out what High End Audio stores listen to as their "go to" music. Awesome choices btw... and Keep up the awesome videos! Being musicians really makes your opinions on audio equipment really unique! :) Thanks again!
Thanks. These specifics about what you focus upon in those tracks is valuable.
I missed this until just now. Great job, guys.
Thanks guys for sharing these tracks. Also really appreciate a "Stereophile youtube" channel that takes audio seriously - great sounding mics.
Excellent point about playing the same stuff over and over likes trades shows where you hear the same stuff. What folks want to hear is music they actually like and enjoy. You quickly get burned out on the same tracks! It's fun to hear about all the selections and I think each if you guys can come up with more for future videos! Thanks!
LMC Home Entertainment in Scottsdale, AZ exposed me to using Thanks To You by Boz Scaggs as a demo tune, and crikey, it is top of my list now for this purpose.
@ohioexpress
Another simple but fantastic track from Boz Scaggs is "My Funny Valentine" which is a Bonus Track only on the Japanese release of the "But Beautiful" album. Just Boz playing piano & singing.
love you guys
Thanks guys! I just added several tracks to my ever-growing audiophile audition playlist.
Here's 5 favs of mine....which is very hard to do, as you know, given so much great music out there....
1) Yoshiko Kishino - And I Love Her
2) Mike Mainieri - Equinox
3) Cecile Verney Quartet - The Bitter & The Sweet
4) Papik - Crazy
5) Anna - Antonio Forcione & Charlie Haden
Enjoy!!
Wow, gotta say, out of all the tracks, I dig Jay's selections the most. Love them all!
This video is 3 years old now. Would love to see an update on 2023 music to audit systems with.
I’m always looking for good sounding test tracks ..Thank you 👍🤝
Can’t believe that “Keith Don’t Go” by Nils Lofgren didn’t make someone’s list. Excellent demo track for a system!!
Thanks for sharing. I still like the classic Famous Blue Raincoat, Jennifer Warnes.
I use this track as well.
@Scottlp2
"Way Down Deep" 👍
I enjoy listening to different test tracks. As it helps me compare my measly JBL Studio 590/PS Audio S300 amp/Tidal Apple TV streamer. The HOT SPADE track that is mentioned does indeed have the triangle that moves position within the soundstage. I can hear it clear as a bell. Thank you for allowing me to bench mark my system.
She plays a Kalimba on My Favorite Things. Great interpretation.
A late comment. Regarding bass: Try out "Never Undo" by Morcheeba (Blaze Away album). While the bass in Hey You is a kind of field across the sound stage, Never Undo has vibrating bass. Also try out the Wandering album by Yosi Horikawa. The track Wandering can pressurize a room so that you can feel the bass "node" travel from the speakers along the floor and up your legs.
@Matthew Barrow
Agreed on the Blaze Away album & other suggestions. Check out Skye Edward's (of Morcheeba) more recent "Skye + Ross" album as well. :)
And check out the electric bass solo in "Spirit" by Hiromi.
Thanks 🙏. Great 👍 mix of excellent sounding recordings
Thanks…I am late to this but just played half of these selections on my new system (BS Node, MC152, C49 (DAC-1) and Lumina IIs.
…great choices, very revealing. Playing the rest tonight. Yes, the HVAC system on Cowboy Junkies track (and beautiful vocal) are spectacular. Love Flight of Cosmic Hippos too.
Just discovered Hey Now on Qobuz and love it!! Certain song are good for reveling attributes for different kind of speakers. I have two sets, one set with built in sub woofers and the other is my Maggie's .7's The Rodger Miller song Little green Apples really shows off the Maggie's mid range. Very intimate close mic recording. For all else, and if you can find it, (very rare) is the CD The wonderful Sound of three blind mice
@Adrian Low
Great list of reference tracks guys!
I'm a drummer/percussionist & saxophonist (mostly jazz, but all genres), so what I'm about to suggest may seem odd. But for a great bass & imaging electronic/dance track check out Smilk's "The Last Rainforest" track.
You can purchase & download the EP for a few $ on BandCamp in WAV, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC, MP3. It might be a good demo track for certain customers. ;)
Another simple but fantastic track from Boz Scaggs is "My Funny Valentine" which is a Bonus Track on the Japanese release of the "But Beautiful" album. Just Boz playing piano & singing.
Wow..the imaging on The Last Rainforest. My wife described it "if Ross Geller took up music full time 😊"
Jay my favorite things is an old jazz standard. It was written by Hammerstein. She does an interesting take on it though.
Vilips bandaid reminds me of a Seinfeld episode. Think it's called The Finger.
I would like to recommend 'The Sound of Silence' From 'What's it all about' By 'Pat Metheny'
Yes beautiful piece
A few songs that I like to use: Lindsey Buckingham: Instrumental Introduction / This is the Time, Kaleida: Think, Wailin' Jenny's: One Voice, and Gordi: Heaven I Know.
Try listen:. Chris Jones album: Roadhouse's & Automobiles. Track "No Sanctuary Here ". The best sound is on vinyl,. But I think that digital version will make you smile as well.
Thanks guys!
@Adrian Low
@Audio Excellence Canada
Anaïs Mitchell - Hadestown
(album)
Image: cdn.albumoftheyear.org/album/hadestown.jpg
...a "conceptual" album based on Homer's Odyssey with EXCELLENT SQ tracks including "Why We Build the Wall" featuring the deep baritone voice of Greg Brown. And the vocal purity and imaging of the a capella "Nothing Changes" by the Haden Triplets. Amazing production, instrumentation, solo and chorus vocals...Excellent imaging and staging. Many other guest vocals. It might not be everyone's cup of tea as it's one of those "different/unusual" albums, but I HIGHLY recommend it! Many tracks will get stuck in your head for good reason and this album will always be a DEMO CD in my system. :)
Any of the *Opus 3 Records* Demo Discs, such as "Test CD 4 - Depth of Image - Timbre - Dynamics" (available in SACD & Vinyl)
Image: www.opus3records.com/image/SACD19420.jpg
Joe Weed - The Vultures
(they play "The Ventures" tracks)
Tracks: Apache & Wipeout
Image: store.acousticsounds.com/images/large/CTOP_1028_SA__15958__01152009113656-4955.jpg
Brass Roots - Purple Cha Cha Heels
Image: cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0000/383/MI0000383589.jpg?partner=allrovi.com
A la Carte Brass & Percussion - Boogeyin'! Swamprock, Salsa & `Trane (on Mapleshade)
Standout Tracks: Mellow Saxophone, Sidewinder, Calcutta Cutie, & Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Image: a1667.phobos.apple.com/us/r30/Music/b2/cd/6e/mzi.xfabtcga.600x600-75.jpg
Fay Lovsky & La Bande Dessinée - (Self-Titled). Check out the track, "Film Noir: Danger City"
Image: img14.shop-pro.jp/PA01076/467/product/20342992.jpg
...BUT MY CURRENT FAVORITE IS:
*The Steph Johnson Trio - "Nature Girl"* (jazz guitar & female vocals)...
Image: media.sdreader.com/img/photos/2013/03/13/promojohnson_t500x449.jpg?7580f0fd518a71e3353caa4c1d2a168ff81c5319
...Steph Johnson (guitar & vocals), with acoustic double bassist Rob Thorsen, and drummer Fernando Gomez, are independent musicians from the San Diego area, so check out their live shows if you're in the area.
D@mn gents, she's got an amazing voice...as stated in the liner notes by a reviewer...a mix of Etta James and Cassandra Wilson)...this woman has SOUL!
And I can't stress enough that this CD is an EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT SQ recording!!!
I'm a drummer/percussionist and saxophonist, and the drum kit and double bass on this CD are SO LIFELIKE that it instantly sent chills down my spine, not to mention Steph's smokey vocals and smooth, clean guitar work. You can hear the "wood" of the drumstick tips on the hi-hat, individual brushes on the snare, and the cymbals and tom-toms have that lifelike attack, sustain/shimmer, and decay...all of that micro detail that make it REAL. :)
This is one of THE best recordings, both for pure SQ, AND pure enjoyment, that I've "purchased" in a looooong time. If you are at all interested in jazz, and beautiful female vocals, like Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald, Melody Gardot, etc, I highly recommend that you check out this CD! Even if you aren't a fan of the genre, this entire CD will show off your system like very few others. And (at least IMHO) there is not a "bad" track on the entire album.
There are various little drum and bass solos spread throughout that are just absolute morsels of auditory joy. I could see many of these tracks ending up on Demo Discs such as the Focal Demonstration discs..they ARE THAT GOOD. The musicians ARE IN THE ROOM with you!
If you are interested, check out her web site (Steph Johnson Band) at: www.stephjohnsonband.com/
Here's a CZcams video of the 1st track off of the "Nature Girl" CD...Just remember that the SQ on the CD is much better, but for a YT video, this is quite good:
"Who is Steph Johnson?" in HD - CZcams ("Who is Steph Johnson?" in HD - CZcams
czcams.com/video/SezDYSKOqsU/video.html
Hope you enjoy and am looking forward to many more amazing recommendations from you guys!
Anything from Stockfisch records is good. Very well recorded music. Also kinda good is a channel on youtube called NBR music, it is 192k MP3 but it sounds so good. I can't understand how they get the quality of sound from youtube.
@chuck williams
Agreed. Just get the "AYA" (Are You Authentic) Sound Check SACD which tests all aspects of your system. 👍
The same goes for anything from the *Opus 3 Records* label and *Mappleshade Records* 👍
Jay, just a suggestion for you for something new. Try the new album by Halsey - Manic. I'm going on 64 and not a big fan of most modern pop music, but I really like this one. Lots of bass , focus and ambience if that makes any sense. It's on Tidal in MQA format. Just a suggestion. Really the videos you fellas put out. Thanks.
Brilllant video
Try Stimela (Coal Train) from Hugh Masekela. Fenomenal song.
Vilip, should I hear sibilance on Yazoo - Ode to Boy (Live)? It seems there is quite a lot of it in this recording (or she sings with a lot of it). Similarly Seal (Killer for example). Not sure if this is my system or songs.
I recommend 'Horizon' by Aldous Harding
Theres just too many to list, about anything from brian culbertson, boney james, lee ritenour, many others just too many. For vocals- enya, billy eillish, tanerelle, lake street dive. Just too many, just browse my playlists and have fun, many good audio testing tracks and good stuff in general, alot of different stuff for everyones tastes.
Hello I had tremendous revelation with Another man's Women from supertramp In the CD2 of Retrospectacle
The Piano starting 3 minutes after the beginning will arm your ears with some lame speakers. I did the test with Bluesound Node 2i, MA252 and Sonetto 3 or Olympica II and there is a Huge difference between the 2 speackers (unfortunatelly because the Olympica is much more expensive...) But for me this song now is THE TEST
My Favourite Things was written by Rogers & Hammerstein! Youn did not write it. But that is a great track.
I like Little Wing by Stevie Ray Vahun.
Ode to Boy.....well, I gave that a listen. Seems the actual crowd 'track' is MONOPHONIC, and I'll bet that all those effects on the music performance itself (and there are many!) were probably added POST in the studio, because that's what engineers do.
Older live jazz recordings from the late 50ies and 60ies have a truer 'live' acoustic stereo image then today's over produced studio affairs. Just my observation.
@Adrian Low
@Audio Excellence Canada
Try these two tracks from Jeff Bradshaw's Bone Deep album:
Soul Of The Bahia
Beyond The Stars
I emailed you a link to download them. Look for "bbfoto" in your Inbox or Spam folder.
Any review on Elac Uni-UF5 yet? Thinking buying a pair next week
What is that rumble?
@@adrianlow2114
@Cash Dollar
They need to engage the Low-Cut filter on the microphones or apply an 80Hz-120Hz High Pass Filter when processing their audio. It would also help intelligibility by adding a ~2kHz Low Pass Filter to roll off the frequencies above that.
Great tracks thanks for sharing. Discovered a good track to use to test the sound of bass drums, Genesis - A Trick of the Tail. On one set of speakers the bass drum sound was tong rather than toom so didn’t like that. Also the vocals can show the level of sibilance on different speakers.
Adrian Low Hi Adrian enjoying the content and topics you come up with. You mentioned you listen to a lot of different music as do I, from jazz to heavy metal. So what 3way speaker or speaker brand under $10K would you recommend for someone that like all type of music? After clarity, natural sound, extended bass, non fatiguing highs. Thanks.
Adrian Low Thanks Adrian. I am going to go and have a listen to these speakers at local store. Do you think they will pair well with Simaudio monoblocks and an audio research LS7 preamp?
@@johnvalatos4073
I'm a drummer/percussionist. Just one of my suggestions...check out Piers Faccini's "Where Angels Fly", "Sharpening Bone", and "Fire In My Head" for a realistic, "open", airy, articulate bass drum. Male vocals are excellent as well for mid-bass/midrange male vocal evaluation.
Demons of Pain by Infected Mushroom either the original or remix
Jay, it may surprise you that youn sun nah didn't wrote those lyrics...
Thanks for sharing, guys. If you have a chance, see if you can find a copy of "Mythos Eternity"; play it and you may enjoy it. It is my go-to demo for any system. You can find this on:
www.discogs.com/Mythos-Eternity/master/188304
I believe there is a CZcams version as well. But you need to get a hard copy.
Here's what is said on the cover:
"Mythos combines ethnic influences from Europe to Brazil to the Middle East in their return album "Eternity". Using piano, Spanish guitar, trumpet, saxophone, and a variety of exceptional vocalists that combine lyric and wordless melodies, Eternity is an ethereal journey through time and space. Powerful and eclectic electronic beats set a backdrop for this incredible collection of 15 tracks..."
Thanks, I’ve added those to my demo list with the listening tips. Maybe if you get tired of those, give these a try: The Best and Lightning Riders by AWOLNATION and for some slam try out Transylvania by Kim Petras.
Pink Floyd Dark side of the Moon...........Sabbath Mob Rules CD.... if it can play those its sold,,,,,,,how will that sound on Magnepans????
@John F
Try the track, ''Chance" from Savatage on the "Handfull Of Rain" album.
Wayfaring Stanger by Emmylou Harris
Marcus Miller - Cousin John
Katie Melua - The closest Thing to Crazy
Anette Askvik - Liberty
Juno Reactor - Guardian Angle
Imogen Heap - Bad Body Double
Black Strobe - Italian Fireflies
Total Eclipse - Nautilus
M.I.A - Paper Planes
deadmau5 - Let Go
Espen Lind - When Susannah Cries
Daft Punk - Human after all
Dune - Hardcore Vibes
too much electronic music, pretty limited musical taste.
@@danielromero6096
??? Different strokes for different folks. Open your mind. I'm a traditional jazz drummer & saxophonist and still appreciate the electronic tracks that were suggested above.
I'd also suggest Tipper's "Broken Soul Jamboree" album and Smilk's "The Last Rainforest".
Annie Lennox’s Cold
Justin Bieber albums are really good sounding :) really.
Extremally misleading! Shows a CD with the word DEMO. But nowhere to download the CD to my computer... Bate and Switch! Should read "We Share the Names our secret demo tracks" !
You guys have no real concept of how to cogently describe what you like about these tracks.Nice choices, anyhow.
Keep phones off please.