|   music CDs to audition speakers | chiragmp
Apr 10, 2003 11:30 AM | | Hi:
I am new on this forum and am not sure if this question was asked before but I am gonna try anyway:
Could someone suggest good CDs to carry while auditioning speakers? Also, what should I be listening to specifically when I audition speakers?
I listen to mostly rock and heavier. Some of my favorites are Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Gun N' Roses.
I have just entered the market for speakers, sub, and a receiver that would be used 70% movies and 30% music. I listen to Pink Floyd's Money from Dark Side of the Moon CD when I audition speakers - don't know if that's one of the right ways to do it.
In a separate post, I will be asking about speakers.
Any advice would be highly appreciated. |
| Bring your own ceedees... | Jimmy C
Apr 10, 2003 12:05 PM | | ...that is the only "right" way. This way, you will have an idea how YOUR music will sound. Even better if you can borrow the speakers for a home demo. |
| Bring your own ceedees... | jrotaryb
Apr 10, 2003 12:51 PM | | exactly...bring something that you listen to often and know inside and out. then u will be able to hear small differences in sound and clarity, depth and range as opposed to what you are used to. it's always fun to find great sounding recordings AFTER you pick up new speakers. I got my PSB Alpha B's last weekend, broke them in within 72 hours and got my first Miles Davis cd last night (best of, remastered blah blah blah). most of the music isn't my cup of tea but the instruments sound fantastic. brass is strong and defined without being harsh and the low end is deep and silky (the velodyne helps out a bit, but I turned it down quite a bit). good luck, shopping around is half the fun of buying!!! don't settle either, eventually you will find the sound you like in your $$ range. |
| Bring a variety... | newbster
Apr 10, 2003 3:22 PM | | .....if you listen to a variety of different types of music bring a few cd's of each type. Many recordings that I love sound crappy compared to some cd's that are superbly recorded yet forgettable. Keep in mind that most speakers that are well extended or "detailed" can sound really bad with bad recordings. Remember, if you can sit there for hours on end and not get tired of the speakers you're listening to there probably right for you. Have fun!!! |
| if you like Smashing Pumpkins ... | levi51
Apr 10, 2003 9:30 PM | | take along Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. it'll give you a good taste of how well the speakers handle highs (Tonight, Tonight); lows ((To Forgive); and imaging (Porcelina of the Vast Oceans).
plus it ... you know ... rox.
but as everyone else has pointed out, take it along only if you're familiar with it.
Jeff |
| Bring a note book | yamdsp-a1
Apr 11, 2003 6:18 AM | | Not to sound too anal but if you plan on checking out quite a few speakers at different locations you should bring a note book to write down your thoughts when you are listening to the speakers. Auditory memory is very very short so even listening to different speakers at the smae location can be difficult. To help with your comparisons (especialy if you do it over several weeks) a notebook will serve you well.
Personally, when I did this, I picked 8 cd's and about 2 songs from each cd. I listened to them at home and noted what I liked about the sound and what i didn't like, what I thought my current speakers did well and where they fell flat. I also noted specific things to watch out for in the recordings - like the excellent instrument seperation on Queen's Dragon Attack. With that starting point, I then auditioned speakers (some in home, some at the dealers) using the same songs making notes as I went along.
Long process. Yes. Tedious, yes. Fun? Definitely. But at the end of the day I had a list of speakers and what I thought their strong and weak points were.
I also tried to get the shops to hook the speakers up to same or similar equipment to mine (Yamaha) so the basis of comparison was similar (given that room accoustics etc play a significant part too).
I ended up purchasing the Paradigm Reference 100's v2 and love them. Had I not gone through the process, I am not sure I would have been as confident that I had made the best selection.
Sorry for being long winded but hope it helps.
Yam |
| re: music CDs to audition speakers | maxximtl
Apr 11, 2003 12:02 PM | | I use an older Alpine reference disc called "the speed of sound." It is a compliation of excellent recordings. It has a booklet that tells you what to listen for in each song. I've had it for about 10 years now, and I use it to audition everything.
It's a challenging CD for speakers, and will bring out the best and worst in each set you audition.
I guess the best advice is to listen to something you are familiar with. A reference disc is only useful if you know how it "should" sound. |
| re: music CDs to audition speakers | Abex
Apr 11, 2003 4:51 PM | | If you have a computer an software burning progam it will make it easier for you.
I take particular tracks I like and burn parts that speakers and systems have hard times duplicating.
Roger Waters--Amused to death--Soundstaging
Stan Ridgway 16Tons--Male Vocals
Tracey Chapman\Karen Carpenter-Female Vocals
U2---NY Bass
10CC-Feel the Benefit--alot of different instraments
I take samples of these that do not last more than 30secs each and burn them onto a CD.When I go to listen to a sytem or component I test it through the CD.I know how they should sound and I hope that it can reveal things I am looking for.
Rodger Waters CD has a boards slapping together and I see if that can be played the way it should.Do the boards sound real.There are slaybells that go accross the soundstage, Marv Alberts voice pinpoint accurate.Do these things sound real. There is a Genoes voice on this CD also that makes most woofers go nuts.I see weather the system plays it correctly.
Is it Live or is it Memorex kind of deal.
Make up your own CD with music you like.Karen Carpenter I saw live when I was young and I know her voice well and she is a good test.
Happy Hunting! |
| re: music CDs to audition speakers | Rob H
Apr 13, 2003 5:16 PM | | This is VERY anal, but first things first. Get a CD with announced test tones to get an idea of what you can and can not hear. It makes no CENTS to pay for a speaker that is supposed to reproduce frequencies you can't even hear.
Speakers should be set-up in the same room one pair at a time.Listen to material that you are familiar with & TRUST YOUR EARS. Don't be influenced by price or pedigree. |
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