I do a lot of classic rock including (as mentioned above) Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Steely Dan. Below are some I haven;t seen here:
“HOPE” by Hugh Maskela is exceptional; even the MP3 samples on Amazon should give you a good idea as to it’s sound quality and which tracks you might prefer.
“Sessions from the 17th Ward” by Amber Rubarth is an exceptional binaural recording (literally made for headphones).
I moved recently and some music is still being unpacked/organized so it’s hard to pick best tracks from memory. I’m primarily an album listener and was/am blown away by the music on both of these recordings.
When I’m testing different headphones, I want music that will give me separation, the ability to hear the differences between the instruments…I want to hear the pick hitting the guitar strings, to hear the singer breathing. Sometimes the music is overpowering and sometimes the headphones are focused towards a different intensity that doesn’t appeal to me. But once I have music that has established a “baseline”, I can use that for future references. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to factor in old age and how I’m say “eh?” more often. D’oh.
Some excellent tracks/suggestions in here (by which I mean in the posts above).
I have a standard playlist I like to use when testing pretty much any piece of audio gear, and it’s a bit long so you can expand it to see it.
And then if I get through all of that there are some albums that I like to listen to as entire albums:
I’ll see about putting together a public/linked playlist for TIDAL versions of those at some point.
I like to listen to Rickie Lee Jones version of Just walk Away Renee’
Fuck… so much homework here!
@stevenswall, really like your notes above, thanks.
Had a blast the other day listening to Paul Simon’s new Stranger to Stranger… really well recorded. @Jaethan hates me for even listening to this album, but it sounds great. Dude’s still a buddha.
Oh shit, good tracks @starence! That Runnin in 7’s caught me off guard… what a great album that is.
Oh shit, and a moody ass pat metheny song!
I listen for the depth of the acoustic guitar on Morning. There is a lot of “bow resin” type vibration that is really satisfying on a good pair.
Then when the rhythm section kicks in on the same track, it highlights dynamic range, soundstage and separation.
I’m all for using your favorite music to test headphones. For me, I love to try Fleetwood Mac’s Little Lies and Dreams.
Absolute best song to test any new equipment is Dreams I’LL Never See by Molly Hatchet. Studio version. Just got home and my new ATH W1000Z’s we’re waiting on me to open them. First song played, Dreams I’LL Never See. Just might hold on to these if they keep sounding better through the break in period.
I feel like everyone should check out Smoke and Mirrors: Vanish by Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble. Check out Juego de Relojes, it’s amazingly recorded and performed and it’s a great song for introducing people to Percussion ensemble because it’s pleasant and fun to listen to!
For his 4th symphony, I recommend the Budapest Festival Orchestra recordings.
For his 5th, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra recording from 1998 is awesome.
For his 9th symphony, the Royal Concertgebouw orchestra recording from 2004 is amazing.
Thanks a lot. Those 3 are hitting today’s listening list
No problem. I’ve scoured most of the recordings on Spotify to try and find my favorites and have played in his 1st symphony.
Oh, and for his 1st a good recording is the Dusseldorfer Symphoniker conducted by Adam Fischer.
Awesome. Just started listening to the 4th
I use Steely Dan’s Aja, The Royal Scam, Katy Lied, and Gaucho
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall
Frank Zappa The Yellow Shark, Over-nite Sensation, Joe’s Garage vol. 1, Apostrophe, and Hot Rats
Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks, Bringing it all Back Home, Blonde on Blonde, and Highway 61 Revisited
Aaron Copeland Fanfare for the Common Man
Friday Night In San Francisco (Live) by Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco De Lucia
Rebecca Pidgeon Spanish Harlem(song)
Nirvana Nevermind
Yes The Yes Album
I could go on and on…
Friday night in San Fran is amazing. Love it.
Why The Yes Album? It’s kinda poorly recorded and I definitely hear that on all my headphones. I’d say fragile or CTTE are better choices for testing purposes. Unless you’re trying to test how forgiving it is with less HiFi recordings, that is.
Gary, the headphone amp designer who runs Electric Avenues asked this question several years ago. His customers posted responses, the link is worth sharing. Songs Suggested by Gary’s Headphone amp customers
Back then I liked The Orb’s Cyberiad CD because of the variety of sonic textures and Dire Strait’s “Ride Across The River” because of the very clear guitar sound.
I’ve always liked Beethoven’s 6th symphony, and both Telarc and Grammophon have done nice versions. I like the Telarc Mahler’s 6th also.
But then there is the FUN music.
Boston Pops, Fiedler, RCA Victor Red Label OFFENBACH, “Gaîté Parisienne” 
It’s fine on speakers, but you can-can listen on your cans! Recently re-released in an audiophile pressing.
And then… and then… Funkadelic’s “Let’s Take it to the Stage” 