Songs used when reviewing amps.

[Stelixus]

I wanna get an amp when my Freq Shows arrive, however I'm kinda clueless to which aspect of the amp to pay attention to, with different songs. Hence, would it be possible for you guys to tell which songs (as in the titles) you listen to when comparing "features" between different amps, such as Treble, midrange, bass, neutrality,
Soundstaging, etc.

 

[TSi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stelixus /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wanna get an amp when my Freq Shows arrive, however I'm kinda clueless to which aspect of the amp to pay attention to, with different songs. Hence, would it be possible for you guys to tell which songs (as in the titles) you listen to when comparing "features" between different amps, such as Treble, midrange, bass, neutrality, Soundstaging, etc.

If you are using other people's songs to compare amps, you arent listening to your own music.
Also, you might not know the "difference" cause u arent familiar with the songs.

 

[Skylab]

Right. What you want is the combination of well recorded music AND music you know VERY well. This is critical, so you can flesh out the differences.

 

[omegaman]

I agree with what is said above, listen to a tune you know well and is well recorded. If you are not sure what tunes are well recorded there is a few threads in the music section. Enjoy the new amp.

 

[FrederikS|TPU]

Listen to some music that you know well and have listened to intensively.

 

[krmathis]

I agree with the comments above as well.
Pick a record that you know well and that are recorded/mastered well.

 

[srserl]

Yes, listen to music you know well. You will know if it sounds better.
I don't know what kind of music you like, but here are some tips for choosing songs for equipment auditioning:
1. Choose a song with especially deep, low bass to see if the equipment can reproduce it well.
2. Choose a song with fast, quick-paced bass. Listen how well the equipment is able to make it sound clean, without running all together.
3. Choose a song with a lot going on (lows, mids, and highs) at the same time, and see how well the equipment allows you to hear what each part is doing. Often, lows obscure mids, or mids obscure highs.
4. Choose a song with mostly mids, and not much else going on. Maybe a song with mostly vocals, or with an instrumental solo in the mid range. Listen to the timbre of the vocal or instrument. Listen to the clarity.
5. Choose a song with cymbals. Listen to how natural the sound is.
6. If you like classical, choose a small group song with violins that you know is well recorded. Make sure the violins do not sound grainy.
7. Choose a song with good drums. Listen to the attack of the drums. Do the tom tom strikes make you blink like you were standing right next to them?

In the end, if you don't notice a difference from the equipment you are currently using, don't buy it. Just be careful what you audition...you don't want to lust after equipment that is eternally out of your price range!

Scott

 

[NelsonVandal]

Just listening to a few songs increase the risk of recordings matching a specific amplifier. Especially if you only pick extraordinary sounding records, and even riskier if you only choose songs that sound the way you like.

A good amp (or any audio product) should have a natural flow that doesn't annoy you, whatever song you listen to. I've often been impressed when listening to a new product or tweak the first sessions, but after some time with the DAP on random play, cloroations start to bug me.

 

[Drag0n]

Red Hot Chilli Peppers -- Californication

Im kidding. Thats an example of what NOT to use...lol.
Its recorded terribly. Listen to it to see why its recorded terribly.

Heres some CDs i use :

Radiohead -- The Bends (All around reasons, stage,dynamics,see if it gets congested with alot of things going on at once, etc)

Pink Floyd -- Dark Side of the Moon (All kinds of sounds to listen for,little things way in the distant backround to listen for that "open window" )

STYX -- Mr. Roboto (dynamics and punch)

James Taylor -- You Got a Friend (follow the constant bass line)

Rush -- Tom Sawyer (Dynamics,Punch)

David Sanborn -- Best Of David Sanborn(Detail, Separation)

Bella Fleck and the Flecktones -- Flight of the Cosmic Hippo(Bass)

Lisa Loeb -- Firecracker(vocals, stage)

I also use some Techno to test how it sounds louder, and for speed, etc.

Primus -- Sailing the Sea of Cheese (All kinds of stuff going on and well recorded)

BB KIng -- Any of his live tunes because you can hear the venue it was recorded in and get a feel for stage and also to listen to male vocals, although he also did duets with females to listen to.


I also have a drum track i use from a sound effects CD thats awesome, and lots of other music.(Drum Track for Punch,Wack, Slam, Realism)

There are so many others, but maybe this will give you some ideas.