Thanks so much, Lou. I thought of a couple of others last night.
More piano: Daniil Trifonov’s Chopin Evocations (DG); Radu Lipu and the Israel Phil.'s Beethoven Piano Concertos (esp #3).
To test capabilities for vocals, I can’t believe I forgot Paul Simon’s Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Also, the entire Sinatra and Count Basie At the Sands is excellent, and should give you a good idea of the system’s spatial capabilities.
Finally, Charlie Haden and Jim Hall on Impulse is just fabulous on testing the ability to reproduce bass.
I am not fond of Sinatra but the ‘Sinatra at the Sands’ album is exceptional. What a swing ! My preferred song is Fly me to the Moon. I included it in my HiFi test playlist a long time ago. Many details. Brass instruments that can become harsh on bad system.
Don’t know how I forgot DiMeola/De Lucía/McLaughlin, Friday Night in San Francisco. The sound is exceptional, you can hear the hall, and my god can these 3 play guitar.
And while I am at it, the Duke and Ray Brown is pretty fine too.
I also like Take Five - but there is a lot of variation in the remastering. Bohemian Rhapsody is also good, there are some nice YouTubes, including one of a classical musician listening and pointing out specifics.
Since you mention Stairway to Heaven, I absolutely love this YouTube
Have to agree about Sinatra; one of the recording industry’s most overrated singers, imo. I can rarely hear a Sinatra track without its summoning memories of the scene in “The Jerk” featuring Steve Martin lying in bed, listening to late night radio.
Super-deluxe-edition is great for stuff like that.
Not gonna lie. I’ve been a pig lately.
I just bought Rage in Eden and Vienna boxsets this weekend. I already have Quartet and I said to myself I just gotta have all 4 releases they’ve done cause the content and quality is so amazing. .
227 Tracks - “Great Sound Quality - Audiophile High End”
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