10 very well recorded Songs to Test and Improve your HIFI system.
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- čas přidán 31. 12. 2022
- Demo well recorded songs to help improve and test your audiophile system. Including bass, vocals, high frequencies, Imaging, attack, decay, Dynamics.
Some description of what to look for in these songs
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Gabster, I really hope you will soon recommend new songs to us. Your recommendations in this video were just incredible !
Thank you, new one in the works :)
The best part about these videos is- You typically get 10 really good songs (from the video itself), and 50+ more from the “Comments”…. Keep them coming!!
I agree. Read mine above.
What you have never heard before. Yes, they are all famous. You are taking a journey outside the box.
czcams.com/video/RxCEMy022Do/video.html
Mori Masako.
czcams.com/video/GSa_8kePpac/video.html
czcams.com/video/Pf4_1bAv7BU/video.html
Teresa Teng.
czcams.com/video/_0iG682XsTY/video.html
czcams.com/video/opdo4Qux1tI/video.html
You're right. The viewers share lots of their fav fine recordings and many of those records sound amazing. This is happening on many CZcams audio- oriented channels.
This is an incredible list. Thanks for the new music and introduction to some amazing recordings.
Hi there, thank you very much for this, I‘ve already added a couple of songs to my own test-list. Your DIY system looks awesome!
List of Songs
10 Barley by Lizz Wright
9 The Day before you came by ABBA
8 Remember me by Bridges Elver
7 Closer by Ane Brun
6 Fever by Malia
5 Rendez-Vous A Paris by Jean Michael Jarre
4 Autumn Leaves by Eva Cassidy
3 Hush by The Marias
2 Crimson Tide by Hans Zimmer
1 Children Under the Sun by Samuel La Manna
Thank you.
Children under the 'Star'
Tks a lot for listing the songs
Nice!
8 Bridges Ivør
Thank you for sharing this list. It's been great to listen to and the recordings are awesome.
wow, so many great songs and artists I didn't know! Such fantastic production - you are completely right that it showcases good systems! Thank you :)
This track list suggestion was very useful for me, it made it clear that i needed to adjust my bass in dirac (reduce it) Thank you for sharing Gabby
Always good to find new music, thanks for this 👍
Great stuff. Thanks for introducing me to some great music to check out. Cheers from Chicago.
Thanks for sharing this list of tracks. It's always refreshing to have "new" recordings by "new" artists recommended rather than the same old predictable dozen or so tracks most folks refer to to. I'll start researching these recommendations immediately!
I agree with you. With music,variety is the spice of life. It's great to see the viewers chime in & to share ideas. I've learned about 5 new remastered recordings recordings that interests me..all from various audiophile channels on CZcams.
Thank you for sharing. Subscribed for your hard work. As far as the thumbs up is concerned, I was going to wait until I get home and try them on my system frist, but looking over your shoulder I just know they're gonna sound great!
Hence the 👍
Great stuff man! Gonna listen to the entire album each song originally came from. Lizz Wright's Grace is amazing, so far!
Nice selection, Gabster. Triste Bahia by Catano Veloso is one of my absolute go-to songs for A-B testing.
1. It's nicely produced
2. It has a wide sound stage with good separation
3. The instruments start off in such a sparse manner that you can hear roll-off, attack etc. Bass isn't widely tested though.
4. It's a bloody good track
Thank you for the wonderful song recommendations and expert insights. Your keen observations about nuisances of the songs really add to the joy of listening to these songs on my HiFi system and helps me appreciate the music and the technology that makes it happen. Keep them coming. God bless.
Thank you 🙏
Nice! Keep sharing tracks and artists you enjoy. Always looking for new artists to enjoy and support.
These recommendations are so helpful! My son introduced me to Eivor a few weeks ago and they are stunning! I'm super happy with my system but I do occasionally audition a track that causes me to question its performance. When that happens, I go back to some really reliable reference recordings, and if those sound right, I know I'm golden. Plus, the sheer pleasure of listening to first rate tracks in terms of both performance and recording is not to be missed. It's all about the music, presented in all its glory. Thanks and cheers! Subscribed, BTW. Also, if you like Hans Zimmer's work, check out Bruno Coulais. The French really understand and value recording and reproduction quality!... as do the South Americans, such as Sera Una Noche, etc.
Thanks for sharing this list. Some great tracks here.
Great list! Thanks!
Thanks for the awesome content!
O-Zone Percussion Group - Jazz Variants is very nice too :)
Thank you for this wonderful listing of HiFi Songs. First thing i did was to create a playlist on Spotify and then listen to your observations in the video and play the song. That let's me enjoy there song even better knowing what to expect, the intricacies of the music. This also helped me really appreciate the 5.1 set up that i have at home. Thank you so much. Looking for more recommendations. ❤
Thank you. This is going to be helpful! 🙏🏼
Thanks Gabster for your recommendations. I found great new songs for my list. I also envy your audio setup. As many of here I´m also tempted to add some of my favorite songs but don´t want to hijack yours :). Greetings from snowy northern Finland.
I can only say wow!!! Great selection 👍🏼 I only got 2 out of 10 from your list . Amazing choices!
Thanks for the great finds!
Great News Gabby.
Thanks.
cant wait to listen to these tracks. My dac is at the doctor right now. going thru serious audio system withdraw at the moment. lm listening to music from my TV.
I’ve always used Paul Weller Broken Stones when buying amp, deck or speakers. Will try this new list on my new Naim and B&W’s. Thanks for this list
Fantastic, Autumn Leaves knocked me out.
Thank you, this is just what I have been looking for.
Thank you glad you found it helpful
May I also suggest The Friends of Mr Cairo which I have on CD and vinyl.
A good friend of mine was in business for a while designing and installing home theater systems and he had a mini-theater set up in his commercial office space with speakers hidden behind grille cloth that made up the walls. I had the self-titled EMERSON LAKE & POWELL CD in my car and we threw that on, starting with the first track "The Score." It was an amazing experience. That whole album sounds like it was recorded in a single grand space, as if they were playing live; in fact, it sounds exactly like their video for the track "Touch And Go" looks. But in that demo room "The Score" was simply all-enveloping - three generations' worth of keyboards, massive drumkit with a physically merciless drummer, and a clean-as-can-be bassist with a tremendous singing voice.
Nice list. Another great on is Beck - Where It's At. Incredibly clean music, all different musical sounds.
The Crimson Tide soundtrack got me. I listened to it till the end of the track. Now I will have to rewatch the movie again after 28 years!
just found it today .... knew half of the portion, but the other half means some new gems for me .... thx a lot
Thank you, Always fun discovering new music at the end it is all about enjoying the music.
totally agreed@@Gabster1
#1 and # 10 are my favorite thank you for sharing!
Thanks for letting me know I like it when I hear what your preferences are
Thank you for introducing me to Hush by The Marias!
Gabster, a very good all-round smooth playlist. Appreciated. Haters Gona hate. Subscribed.
Great list! Thanks for the video. Subscribed!
great topic, thanks Gabi! I really appreciate your outstanding work!
For testing I personally use "Hello" by Evanescence - especially starting from 2:45 - if you turn up volume to the max and sound is clear and not distorted than you have a really good speakers, but I do this kind of testing in the car only, I respect my neighbours too much to do this kind of loud testing at home
Thanks for posting this interesting topical video.
New one coming tomorrow :)
That Rendevouz a Paris by JMJ reminds me of Art of Noise. 😉
Good selection over all. Thanks for sharing.
I know Spotify isn’t lossless yet but I got myself a Cambridge audio cxn c2 and the upscaling is amazing on it but I found a playlist on there called “Speaker testing tracks” put together by Cambridge audio. Was really a joy hearing them make my speakers sing and definitely worth a listen. Great variation of well recorded tracks.
liked and subscribed, amazing set up.
Love your speakers !
Thanks, havenm't got past Lizz Wright, new one for me and sounds great and right up my roots street! Look forward to exploring the other 9... Couple of my recommendations: Sara K recordings are incredible, either from her Chesky or Stockfisch labels periods. 'Waterfalls' album and live with Chris Jones are my particular favourites. Stickfisch label 'Closer to the Music' samplers are worth checking out too, featuring Sara, Chris and others
wow! that's a great list. few new jams, not sure how I didn't know about Lizz Wright.
You nailed it
Great many great songs!
My go-to songs is:
1 Here’s to life - Antonsen big band.
2 One day you’ll dance for me New York City - Thomas Dybdal
3 Sol - Solar Fields
4 Return to the sauce - infected mushroom.
wow you have some amazing gear
1. Arooj Aftab - Baghon Main
2. Bonobo - Emkay
3. Alt-J - Tesselate
4. Sons of Kemet - To Never Forget the Source
5. Melody Gardot - Preacherman
6. The Budos Band - Old Engine Oil
7. Anna von Hausswolff - How Many More of These
8. Yosi Horikawa - Bubbles
9. Ondara - Give Me a Moment
10. Johnny Greenwood - Future Markets
A few recent favs! Thanks for sharing, excited to dive in :)
just got hooked on Arooj Aftab. The recording is amazing and I do understand some urdu, so liking it even more.
@@fmtntiger You’re absolutely right - the whole of Vulture Prince is impeccably recorded and truly astounding in its clarity. Very cool that you get the added context too!
All the selections are great performances, music voice-on and on. What is played here to test the sound system may be disliked by most listeners, but perform best as tools.
Trank u a lot für this Video. U have a new Fan. Geräts from Germany 👋
My go-to songs for system evaluation:
Kevin Eubanks - The Heat of Heat
Kool & the Gang - Summer Madness
Jewel - Serve the Ego
Sarah McLachlan - Into the Fire
Shawn Colvin - Shotgun Down the Avalanche
Very nice video. Best from Poland.
The Who, Quadrophenia and Love Reign o’re me - dynamic range, thunderous drums and impeccably recorded too. ❤
Great list
Thank you Gabby, diverse and beautiful artistic selection, I have compiled into a playlist for all to enjoy...called Jilted ..because iit is the name of a Christine and the Queens song that I was listening to ...please only click if you have listened to Gabby's complete overview of these 12 tracks 🙏💜🎶🙂❣️
Nice Selection ..!
great list
Sharing our favorite music is very much part of the audiophile journey rather than talking about equipment all the time!
Eva Cassidy sings a live version of “Over the Rainbow” on “Nightbird” that will give you goosebumps, a corny old song but you will never have heard it sung like this before…….
Eva sang with soul. Her version of Over The Rainbow melts me every time I hear it.
Eva, when she was with us, could make ANY song special!
Great track. Like nearly all the songs he recorded, Jerry Lee Lewis does it best 🤘
czcams.com/video/RxCEMy022Do/video.html
What a pure, beautiful voice. I am in love!
Thanks! The version of these tracks is just as important, please specify, thanks again.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you. Was watching along with Spotify and copied your selection to try.
There’s only one track i use to demonstrate any decent audio system, it never fails to raise eyebrows, its a Grammy award winning song by the angel voiced ‘Lisa Fischer’ who sang backing for the late great ‘Luther Vandross’, and the track is called “How Can I Ease The Pain”…….. thank me later
Yep, he right!
Great choice
Two observations:
1) Fischer’s singing style is very gasp-y which isn’t my cup of tea and isn’t necessary to express emotion for someone with an otherwise outstanding voice; and
2) that song seems like it would sound good on almost any equipment rather than have characteristics that would be masked by average equipment and be revealed by a higher quality speaker or component. It seems to be the audio equivalent of sampling tequilas mixed in with a big pour of pineapple juice instead of just straight.
If I’m not mistaken, Fischer has toured with the Stones and featured prominently on Gimme Shelter.
Thank you, you might try I diine skap by kari bremnes
Thank you.
Thank you. Please more of it. Its very difficult to find good musik.
Gabster, I truly enjoy your videos. Your song suggestions are all excellent. Please tell me, did you recommend Lyn Stanley's Bye Bye Blackbird? I am searching for that video. Thanks
I’m so glad I watched this video. A lot of great new artists to check out. My favorite so far is Eva Cassidy who I was surprised to read lived less than two hours from me. Check out her album ( Acoustic). It’s such a shame she died so young 😢
@Ronnie Cramer
If you like Eva Cassidy, please check out the album by *Steph Johnson Trio - Nature Girl* which is fantastically recorded. Unfortunately, it is no longer widely available, but you can get it if you search on Apple Music or iTunes, and most of the tracks are on CZcams as well. Just search for "Steph Johnson, Nature Girl".
Eva was amazing. Chills with both Fields of Gold and Over the Rainbow
Some of my favorite rock songs for testing: The Knack - My Sharona -live studio sound. Toni Basil- Mickey . Squeeze - Tempted the remix and Lisa Loeb -Stay- remixes from movie Soundtrack Reality Bites. Pink Floyd- Time and Money from Dark Side of the Moon.. British Import vinyl. Alan Parsons Project- Sirius and Eye in the Sky. Hello- Oh Yeah (Ferris Buehler) . Lou Rawls- You’ll Never Find
Led Zeppelin #One & ELP Brain Salad Surgery !
Thanks To You - Box Scaggs
Check out the "My Funny Valentine" BONUS TRACK (# 11) that is only available on the 2003 *Japanese pressing* of Boz Scaggs' "But Beautiful, Standards Volume 1" album. The most intimate and pure recording of piano and the male voice.
My top recordings
Runrig - Mighty Atlantic
Jennifer Warnes - Famous blue raincoat
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Eagles - Hotel California (live from hell freezes over album)
Johnny Cash - Unchained album
Jameroqui - travelling without moving
Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley
Jacques Loussier - air on a g string
Best streaming quality - Amazon music ultra HD, yes better than tidal. CZcams, Spotify etc are just not cut out for high listening, zero sound staging from mp3s.
@gabster, I have added all the tracks from Tidal and enjoying it a lot. Great job pulling this together.
Thank you 🙏
Great list - thank you. Does anybody have a similar list with classical music? My experience is that concertos and symphonies can push any system to it's limits.
Thank you for the list. It led to so many other good music. You might like Agnes Obel Familiar of her Album Citizen of Glass
I'll check it out!
appreciate the list. try Harmonium from Quebec. I was stunned by the recording since its from the 70s. hope you don*t mind the french singing.
I like the concept that many tunes are needed and correct about poor recordings. Vocals are essential for testing mid. I find electronic instruments are not good tests because they are flat and any depth sound is purely artificial. Electric bass is rather essential to test woofer-mid transition but double/tripple bass is essential to test woofer natural sound delivery.
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Only one orchestra? For testing I use acoustic instruments especially for speaker placement and transitions between the speaker components. For testing highs and mids I believe Paul Winter Consort albums are a must especially Kurski Funk (triple bass and amazing clear high percussion). Tommy Emmanuel's albums are exceptionally recorded and give a pure test of mid and mid-high transition.
Thanks
Thank you so much for your support appreciate it
Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Lucky Man" was my go-to test song back in the '70s.
Carl Palmer’s drum kit !
That is..and always has been a great audio test track.
I have just come across your channel by chance and continually searching for all things music and audiophile related. So glad I did. Music is such a huge part of my life; I was basically born with it in me. Interesting, surprising music, the kind that makes your hairs stand on end is what drives me to continue to search for fascinating music. I love some of your suggestions on this presentation and have already added them to my library. I have subscribed to your channel and will continue to get new ideas. You have given me some great songs; I will offer you two gems in return although I have so many favorites it is always hard to choose. #1 is Paul Mealor's 'A Tender Light' (song #4) 'Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal'. Uncompressed there are huge volume changes, but the fidelity, the huge soundstage of the recording of this madrigal, and the vocal harmonies are 'hair rasing'. #2 at the total other of the music spectrum is Darj. This is extreme low-bass electronica with lots of pops, crackles, and percussive surprises. The album is "Low Voltage Vol. 27" and the song is 'Journey'. It's a treat for your ears and a great test for your sound system or headphones. Happy listening!
Thank you and I will check your suggestions always nice to see what others like.
Found channel by chance today as well.Subscribed.I am amazed at how many wonderful artists I haven't even heard of.
@Gabster
@megapix
If you like Darj, check out *DJ Smilk - The Last Rainforest* EP. The title track and "Acoustic Crumpet" are best, IMO. They are available for streaming or Download in almost any format you want on their *BandCamp* page. Also check out Infected Mushroom (The Shen), and the artist Tipper.
Thank, will do.
@@bbfoto7248 Tried them both; excellent!, thanks. FYI, in Apple Music, it comes up under Smilk. Tipper! I was gonna recommend but you beat me to it! LOL
Tin Pan Alley SRV from Couldn't Stand the Weather.... the best recording I have ever heard.
Please try these songs, all with impressive sound:
1. The Cousins - Twistin In
2. Rosemary Clooney , Perez Prado- Like a Woman
3. Dead Can Dance - Rakim
4. Bjork - HUman Behaviour
5. Muddy Waters - Country Boy
6. Connie Francis - Solamente Una Vez
7. Tom Jones - Live from Las Vegas
Settle in in front of your sound system, turn the lights down a bit, close your eyes and play "What A Wonderful World" by Eva Cassidy from her album Live At Blues Alley. Pure bliss...it doesn't get any better than that.
Autumn Leaves on that live recording kills.
Extra amazing when you consider how "raw" most of her recordings were! Little or no fancy digital "fiddling" after the fact and many were just "practice" recordings!
A fantastic album.We lost her so young.
Thanks man. Happy New Year! :-)
@Gabster
Look for Joni Mitchell's "Just Like This Train" (Acoustic Live track in the KCRW radio station studio in Santa Monica, CA). It is on the *KCRW Rare On Air Vol. 2* CD. Phenomenal performance and excellent recording.
Avratz, infected mushroom
Thanks for the tips….of course the music quality would be depending from the source of tracks download. What’s the best digital download there is on the net? Apple Music, Spotify or TIDAL for example?
Mighty Sam McClain: “Give It Up To Love.” it is a super high quality recording by Audioquest. On inferior quality equipment, Sam‘s voice sounds thin and scratchy, and it is only on better quality equipment, that the true richness and power of his voice comes out; although not well-known outside of the blues genre, McClain may be the finest male blues singer of all time. Back in the 1990s I was demoing some compact systems at Circuit City for my wife with the song, and two teenagers came up to me and asked for the name of the album they liked it so much.
@WisGuy4
Agreed. Check out his *Soul Survivor* album, and specifically Mighty Sam's "When the Hurt is Over" track. AMAZING!
Any Hip Hop Audiophiles out there? Try these....
Selah - Kanye West
i - Kendrick Lamar
Destination: Mother Moon - Kid Cudi
Namaste - Beastie Boys
Sacrifice - The Roots (feat. Nelly Furtado)
Let Nas Down - J. Cole
your gear and set up is crazy, how much did all of that cost?
'base' - the lowest part or edge of something, especially the part on which it rests or is supported.
'bass' - deep or grave in tone
I once played Pink Floyd’s “Time” on a pair of Klipschorns.
You have to like the music
Traffic - Low Spark, John Barleycorn
Steely Dan - Aja side 1
Joni Mitchell Hejira
Bill Evans - Sunday Night At the Village Vanguard
Duke Ellimgtom - Masterpieces at Midnight
Nicely Done.
You had me with the first song Barley.
But you lost me on the last song "Children under the star"
at 8:10 in your video you talk about great vocals.
Maybe my system can't pick up the vocals if they are in the way way way way background.
If you didn't mention it I would of not known any vocals were on this track.
Maybe I missed something or the amazon streaming version is different :)
System is 🔥
A few songs I've become partial to... So lonely (the police), Stereo (pavement), As (Stevie Wonder) Deja vu (csny), Down to Zero (Joan Armatrading).
Nice !
Hush by Marías is recorded in spatial audio (Dolby ATMOS)
Hmmm, okay. Did some research.
Music is being released with both Stereo & ‘Spatial’ (Dolby ATMOS) versions mastered.
That is, from the base recording tracks… sound engineers are producing 2 versions. Stereo & Spatial. So, it’s not wrong to listen to Stereo where spatial exists… though it can be a very different listening experience.
Sometimes the Spatial version is significantly more interesting… ie. Lotsa Billie Elish stuff. Original Pink Floyd Time (Original quadraphonic) …
Sometimes the stereo is superior.
Ideally they’re both attempting to accomplish the same thing… wonderful staging.
1 Trauermarsch - Symphony No 5 by G Mahler: Sinopoli/Philharmonia Orchestra czcams.com/video/llQc_BRSr7E/video.html
2 Led Zeppelin by Sick Again czcams.com/video/lcEqU4Bmo64/video.html
3 Wayfaring Pilgrim by Roy Buchanan czcams.com/video/MSKqEmeONuU/video.html
4 Violin Concerto in D Major, RV 208 "Il grosso Mogul": II. Grave by A Vivaldi czcams.com/video/oFlFoex-2lA/video.html
5 Stabat Mater, FP 148: X. Fac ut portem Christi mortem by F Poulenc czcams.com/video/H9z6DHDxbTw/video.html
These will test your speakers
Great suggestions. Some of my favorites are from Gino Vitelli, especially “Powerful People” and “People Gotta Move”. Superb dynamic range, seperation and just incredible recordings. Not heavy on bass but will demonstrate how good an😊 amp/speaker system really is…
Gino ViNelli
@@carriestuart9921 Gino Vannelli
WOW !! Gino Vannelli ‘s Brother to Brother album , very well recorded.
@@jackwezesa1081 Gino is and was a stickler for perfection.
@@dam4274 You sure can tell within a few seconds of listening. I played Gist of Gemini yesterday very loudly ! Great stuff !
thnx
1000 thx gabi, Dominique Fils-Aimé was realy the one I will follow for sure. ....and....
This is the record I take with me anywhere since it's been releases late the 80's:
Voodoo (Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet) espacially track 1 on B side "Voodoo".... Yesssss :=)
John Zorn: alto saxophone
Wayne Horvitz: piano/keyboards
Ray Drummond: bass
Bobby Previte: drums
Thanks 🙏
Your suggestions for relatively unknown music is great. BUT i can’t find anywhere what your sources are for these. And I’m perplexed why you don’t tell us. Are you using high res files? Or CDs? Or SACDs? Or vinyl records? Not all of us have the equipment or resources to play all formats. Thank you!