Also see thread - http://www.head-fi.org/t/108584/the-best-audiophile-tracks-to-test-equipment
 
This is going to be a list of reference recordings that we can all use to demo not only our headphones, but any part of our systems - speakers, amps, etc.
 
STARTING OFF:
--------------------------------------------------------
 
Pink Floyd - The Wall
2 CD's Housed in Fat Box
Catalog Numbers (all have same mastering):
CDCBS 88485 (CBS Austria DADC-A)
C2K 36183 (Columbia 1985 US/Japan 2-3 Denon)
C2K 36183 (Columbia 1986 US 4-5 DADC)
CDCBS 88485 (CBS 1985 Australia/Japan 2 Sony)
50DP 361/62 (CBS/Sony 1985 Japan 1)
48DP 5007/08 (CBS/Sony 1988 Japan 2)
 
*******
 
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon
1 CD
Catalog Numbers:
CDP 7 46001 2 (Harvest 1984 UK / Japan a Sony)
CDP 7 46001 2 (Harvest 1984-86 US/Japan 1 Sony)​
CDP 7 46001 2 (Harvest 1984-86 US / Japan a Sony)
CDP 7 46001 2 (Capitol 1986 US/Japan 2-4 Toshiba)​
CDP 7 46001 2 (Capitol 1986 US / Japan 2-4 Toshiba)
CP35-3017 matrix 1A1 no TO (Toshiba-EMI 1983-86 Japan 1 Sony) ​
CP35-3017 matrix 1A1 no TO (Toshiba-EMI 1983-86 Japan a Sony)
 
Alternatives:
SACD Hybrid (SACD LAYER ONLY - CD LAYER IS COMPRESSED!)
Catalog Numbers:
CDP 7243 5 82136 2 Jan.-US (Capitol 2003 US Crest SACD)
TOGP 15001 (Toshiba-EMI/Sony 2003 Japan SACD)​
 
can we get a ranking for these, just asking​
 
 
 
Another Reference Recordings List (mostly Red Book CDs in no particular order and a few just for fun) by jazzfan
 
 
Seq Name Artist Album Genre Track # Duration Bit Depth Sample Rate Date
1 Jamaica Heartbeat Acoustic Alchemy Back On The Case Jazz 2 5:33 16 44100 Hz 1991
2 Tension Blue Man Group Audio Rock 6 2:05 16 44100 Hz 1999
3 Lester Leaps In Bucky Pizzarelli Swing Live Jazz 1 8:24 16 44100 Hz 2001
4 Lime House Blues Bucky Pizzarelli Swing Live Jazz 7 9:39 16 44100 Hz 2001
5 The Auction Charles Gross & Windham Hill Artists Country Soundtracks 11 4:51 16 44100 Hz 1984
6 Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing Chris Isaak Forever Blue Rock 1 2:54 16 44100 Hz 1995
7 Why the Dolphin Smiles Craig Chaquico A Thousand Pictures New Age 2 4:16 16 44100 Hz 1996
8 Navajo Stars Craig Chaquico A Thousand Pictures New Age 3 6:20 16 44100 Hz 1996
9 I Love Being Here With You Diana Krall Live In Paris Female Vocal 1 5:12 16 44100 Hz 2002
10 East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) Diana Krall Live In Paris Female Vocal 5 5:58 16 44100 Hz 2002
11 Money For Nothing Dire Straits Brothers In Arms (20th Anniversary Edition - SACD) Rock 2 8:25 16 44100 Hz 1985
12 Your Latest Trick Dire Straits Brothers In Arms (20th Anniversary Edition - SACD) Rock 4 6:33 16 44100 Hz 1985
13 Ride Across The River Dire Straits Brothers In Arms (20th Anniversary Edition - SACD) Rock 6 6:58 16 44100 Hz 1985
14 Hotel California Eagles Hell Freezes Over Rock 6 7:12 16 44100 Hz 1994
15 Tricotism Eddie Daniels Chesky 10th Ann Sp Ed - CD1 Jazz 6 2:56 16 44100 Hz 1996
16 Signe Eric Clapton Unplugged Rock 1 3:13 16 44100 Hz 1992
17 Hey Hey Eric Clapton Unplugged Rock 3 3:16 16 44100 Hz 1992
18 Layla Eric Clapton Unplugged Rock 7 4:46 16 44100 Hz 1992
19 T. Rex!* Erich Kunzel & The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra Great Fantasy-Adventure Album Soundtracks 3 0:54 16 44100 Hz 1994
20 Jurassic Park: Main Themes Erich Kunzel & The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra Great Fantasy-Adventure Album Soundtracks 4 5:24 16 44100 Hz 1994
21 Chant Fourplay Between The Sheets Jazz 1 6:25 16 44100 Hz 1993
22 Heavy Blue Gerard D' Angelo Trio Not What My Hands Have Done Jazz 3 3:27 16 44100 Hz 2000
23 La Pardida Gerard D' Angelo Trio Not What My Hands Have Done Jazz 7 5:43 16 44100 Hz 2000
24 Hidden Track Hidden Track Mapleshade's Music Festival Jazz 14 1:35 16 44100 Hz 2000
25 Hunger Hans Zimmer & Baaba Maal Black Hawk Down OST Soundtracks 1 6:35 16 44100 Hz 2001
26 The battle Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard Gladiator Soundtracks 3 10:02 16 44100 Hz 2000
27 Now We Are Free Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard Gladiator Soundtracks 17 4:14 16 44100 Hz 2000
28 Drum Solo by Dirk Sengotta Henrik Freischlader Henrik Freischlader Band Live - Disc Two Blues 3 6:43 16 44100 Hz 2008
29 The Firebird - Finale Igor Stravinsky Tutti! Orchestral Sampler Classical 5 2:54 16 44100 Hz 1997
30 Limehouse Blues Jazz At The Pawnshop Jazz At The Pawnshop (Disc 1) Jazz 1 9:40 16 44100 Hz 1984
31 High Life Jazz At The Pawnshop Jazz At The Pawnshop (Disc 1) Jazz 3 7:16 16 44100 Hz 1984
32 Rock You Gently Jennifer Warnes The Hunter Female Vocal 1 4:24 16 44100 Hz 1992
33 Way Down Deep Jennifer Warnes The Hunter Female Vocal 8 5:45 16 44100 Hz 1992
34 Viva Jesse Cook Free Fall New Age 5 4:21 16 44100 Hz 2000
35 Mario Takes a Walk Jesse Cook Gravity New Age 1 3:49 16 44100 Hz 1996
36 Into the Dark Jesse Cook Gravity New Age 5 4:17 16 44100 Hz 1996
37 You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To Jim Hall Concierto (Remaster) Jazz 1 7:07 16 44100 Hz 1975
38 "Sinfonia in D Vivace" Johan Helmish Roman 3 Violin Concetos - 3 Sinfonias Classical 1 2:12 16 44100 Hz 1985
39 "Sinfonia in D Adagio" Johan Helmish Roman 3 Violin Concetos - 3 Sinfonias Classical 2 0:35 16 44100 Hz 1985
40 "Sinfonia in D Allegro assai" Johan Helmish Roman 3 Violin Concetos - 3 Sinfonias Classical 3 0:54 16 44100 Hz 1985
41 "Sinfonia in D Allegro staccato" Johan Helmish Roman 3 Violin Concetos - 3 Sinfonias Classical 4 0:36 16 44100 Hz 1985
42 Drum Record - Jim Keltner Keltner/Tutt The Sheffield Track Record/The Sheffield Drum Record Demo Music 6 7:09 16 44100 Hz 1982
43 Chitlins Con Carne Kenny Burrell Midnight Blue [RVG Edition] Jazz 1 5:30 16 44100 Hz 1999
44 O-Daiko (Big Drum) Kodo Heartbeat Drummers of Japan World 2 6:12 16 44100 Hz 1985
45 War [Binaural] Lenny White, Jamey Haddad & Mark Sherman Explorations in Space and Time Demo Music 3 5:46 24 88200 Hz 2011
46 Long Distance [Binaural] Lenny White, Jamey Haddad & Mark Sherman Explorations in Space and Time Demo Music 9 5:35 24 88200 Hz 2011
47 Rosario Manhattan Jazz Quintet Angel Eyes Jazz 3 4:11 16 44100 Hz 1987
48 Angel Massive Attack Mezzanine Electronica 1 6:20 16 44100 Hz 1998
49 Inertia Creeps Massive Attack Mezzanine Electronica 4 5:56 16 44100 Hz 1998
50 Recorda Me McCoy Tyner New York Reunion Jazz 1 9:48 24 96000 Hz 1991
51 Miss Bea McCoy Tyner New York Reunion Jazz 2 7:08 24 96000 Hz 1991
52 A Quick Sketch McCoy Tyner New York Reunion Jazz 7 10:35 24 96000 Hz 1991
53 Home McCoy Tyner New York Reunion Jazz 8 10:58 24 96000 Hz 1991
54 Because It's There Michael Hedges Windham Hill Records Sampler '88 New Age 6 3:16 16 44100 Hz 1988
55 Psychopump Mickey Hart, Airto & Flora Purim Dafos World 5 4:24 16 44100 Hz 1985
56 The Gates of Dafos Mickey Hart, Airto & Flora Purim Dafos World 7 4:04 16 44100 Hz 1985
57 Dance Of The Tumblers Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov Tutti! Orchestral Sampler Classical 1 3:48 16 44100 Hz 1997
58 Don't Know Why Norah Jones Come Away With Me Female Vocal 1 3:06 16 44100 Hz 2002
59 Lonestar Norah Jones Come Away With Me Female Vocal 8 3:06 16 44100 Hz 2002
60 Last Train Home Pat Metheny Group Still Life (Talking) Jazz 3 5:41 16 44100 Hz 1987
61 The Beat Goes On Patricia Barber Companion Female Vocal 1 5:27 16 44100 Hz 1999
62 Use Me Patricia Barber Companion Female Vocal 2 6:32 16 44100 Hz 1999
63 Touch of Trash Patricia Barber Companion Female Vocal 5 4:48 16 44100 Hz 1999
64 Regular Pleasures [Patricia Barber] Patricia Barber Verse Female Vocal 7 5:44 16 44100 Hz 2002
65 On the Run Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon (Digital Remaster 2003) Rock 3 3:50 16 44100 Hz 1973
66 Time Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon (Digital Remaster 2003) Rock 4 6:49 16 44100 Hz 1973
67 Another Brick in the Wall (Part 1) Pink Floyd The Wall - Disc 1 Rock 3 3:10 16 44100 Hz 1979
68 The Happiest Days of Our Lives Pink Floyd The Wall - Disc 1 Rock 4 1:51 16 44100 Hz 1979
69 Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) Pink Floyd The Wall - Disc 1 Rock 5 4:00 16 44100 Hz 1979
70 The Witch Rebecca Pidgeon The Raven Female Vocal 2 2:46 24 88200 Hz 1999
71 Spanish Harlem Rebecca Pidgeon The Raven Female Vocal 12 3:35 24 88200 Hz 1999
72 Various Artists - 01 - Roaring of the Tiger and Dragon-Longtenghuyue Roaring of the Tiger and Dragon-Longtenghuyue 31th Taipei International Hi-End Show - Audiophile Collection Vol. 7 Demo Music 1 3:36 16 44100 Hz 2010
73 Kaaruwana Robert Rich Medicine Box Electronica 2 6:18 16 44100 Hz 2011
74 Wishing Well Schonherz and Scott Windham Hill Records Sampler '88 New Age 1 4:50 16 44100 Hz 1988
75 Shpongle Falls Shpongle Are You Shpongled? Electronica 1 8:33 16 44100 Hz 1998
76 Slice of Life : Jinji's Magic Bottle Special EFX Slice Of Life Jazz 8 3:13 16 44100 Hz 1986
77 Desafinado Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd Jazz Samba Jazz 1 5:50 24 192000 Hz 1997
78 Audio Anarchist & Ralph the Christmas Dog / Channel Identification Stereophile Stereophile Test CD1 Test Signals 2 0:27 16 44100 Hz 1990
79 Audio Anarchist & Ralph the Christmas Dog / Channel Phasing Stereophile Stereophile Test CD1 Test Signals 3 0:36 16 44100 Hz 1990
80 1 KHz / one third octive warble tone at -20dB Stereophile Stereophile Test CD1 Test Signals 20 1:01 16 44100 Hz 1990
81 Stereophile / Pink Noise at -20dBFS L+R (uncorrelated from 0:42) Stereophile Stereophile Test CD2 Test Signals 15 1:24 16 44100 Hz 1992
82 Texas Flood (Live Video Version) Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble Blues At Sunrise Blues 7 9:43 16 44100 Hz 2000
83 Call It Stormy Monday Stevie Ray Vaughan & Albert King In Session Blues 1 9:00 24 192000 Hz 2011
84 Papa Legba Talking Heads True Stories Rock 4 5:56 24 96000 Hz 1986
85 These Bones The Fairfield Four I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray Gospel 2 3:46 16 44100 Hz 1997
86 Squib Cakes Tower Of Power Direct Funk 3 7:55 16 44100 Hz 1981
87 Drum set Rock beat 1 Unknown Artist Percussion Demo and System Condition Disc Demo Music 1 2:04 16 44100 Hz 2006
88 Random percussion instruments 1 Unknown Artist Percussion Demo and System Condition Disc Demo Music 3 2:55 16 44100 Hz 2006
89 Random percussion instruments 2 Unknown Artist Percussion Demo and System Condition Disc Demo Music 8 6:00 16 44100 Hz 2006
90 Percussion Imaging Test Various Artists Head-Fi and HDtracks presents Open Your Ears Demo Music 9 9:31 24 96000 Hz 2010
91 Heartbeat Various Artists Head-Fi and HDtracks presents Open Your Ears Demo Music 11 1:30 24 96000 Hz 2010
92 In a Mellow Tone Various Artists The Ultimate Demonstration Disc Volume 2 Demo Music 1 5:33 24 96000 Hz 2008
93 Speak Like a Child Various Artists The Ultimate Demonstration Disc Volume 2 Demo Music 2 7:20 24 96000 Hz 2008
94 Club Descarga Various Artists The Ultimate Demonstration Disc Volume 2 Demo Music 4 6:57 24 96000 Hz 2008
95 Young Girl's Heart Various Artists The Ultimate Demonstration Disc Volume 2 Demo Music 5 5:09 24 96000 Hz 2008
96 My Foolish Heart Various Artists The Ultimate Demonstration Disc Volume 2 Demo Music 6 6:26 24 96000 Hz 2008
97 Little Wing Various Artists The Ultimate Demonstration Disc Volume 2 Demo Music 7 3:02 24 96000 Hz 2008
98 Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra 3rd Movement Various Artists The Ultimate Demonstration Disc Volume 2 Demo Music 10 5:52 24 96000 Hz 2008
99 The News Vince Benedetti Meets Diana Krall Heartdrops Jazz 1 5:03 16 44100 Hz 2003
100 Detroit Blues (music L. Eckinger) Vince Benedetti Meets Diana Krall Heartdrops Jazz 3 6:29 16 44100 Hz 2003
101 Autumn Leaves Warren Bernhardt So Real Jazz 1 7:36 16 44100 Hz 2001
102 I Mean You Warren Bernhardt So Real Jazz 5 5:48 16 44100 Hz 2001
103 Bumpin' Wes Montgomery Bumpin' Jazz 1 6:51 16 44100 Hz 1965
104 TV Adventure Themes Erich Kunzel & The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra Bond & Beyond Soundtracks 9 12:08 16 44100 Hz 1991
105 Chapter 1: La Strega (Her Journey To The Grand Ball) Andreas Vollenweider Book Of Roses New Age 1 1:02 16 44100 Hz 1992
106 Chapter 1: The Grand Ball Of The Duljas Andreas Vollenweider Book Of Roses New Age 2 1:46 16 44100 Hz 1992
107 Chapter 1: Morning At Boma Park Andreas Vollenweider Book Of Roses New Age 3 3:16 16 44100 Hz 1992