the comfortably numb test

[Duggeh]

Testing Songs? Well these catagories and nominations spring to mind.

For Power
1)Mike Oldfield - Hergest Ridge (Part 2)
2)Vangelis - Mythodea Movement 1
3)Iron Butterfly - In A Gadda Da Vida
4)Bon Jovi - It's My Life

For Bass
1)Mike Oldfield - Out Of Sight
2)Mr Oiso - Flat Beat
3)Pink Floyd - Learning To Fly (PULSE Version)
4)Michel Jackson - Unbreakable

For Treble
1)Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells 2003 Introduction
2)Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygene Pt.7
3)Mike Oldfield - The Sunken Forest
4)Brian Eno - Ambient 1 Pt 1

For Pure Dynamics
1)Steely Dan - Hey Nineteen
2)Donald Fagen - I.G.Y.
3)Mike Oldfield - Amarok
4)Mike Oldfield - Secrets/Far Above The Clouds

For Male Vocals
1)Peter Cincotti - On The Moon
2)Luciano Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma
3)Crash Test Dummies - The Unforgiven Ones
4)Deep Purple - Child In Time

For Female Vocals
1)Pink Floyd - The Great Gig In The Sky
2)Eurythmics - Ive Tried Everything
3)Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
4)Mike Oldfield - Incantations Pt.1

For Some Aurgasms
1)Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick (Side 1)
2)Godspeed You! Black Emperor - East Hastings
3)Mike Oldfield - Crises
4)Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

*subject to later revision*

 

[Azure]

I always use The Strong Jaeger (Ryu remix) because of its speed, deep and punchy bass/beat, and the fantastic treble spikes

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure I always use The Strong Jaeger (Ryu remix) because of its speed, deep and punchy bass/beat, and the fantastic treble spikes

FAST! Some awesome beats to that, I'd like to hear it in lossless. (id also like to have had my subwoofer turned on when i played it!)

 

[Azure]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh FAST! Some awesome beats to that, I'd like to hear it in lossless. (id also like to have had my subwoofer turned on when i played it!)

Heh, I have a lot faster songs than that. Though the fast sections are only a few seconds sprinkled around in the song, it makes up for it with the bass and treble.

I've been trying to hunt down the cd for a while now for a lossless rip, but I haven't had too much luck. It can only be found on a cd (Beatmania IIDX V-Rare 8) that came with the limited edition version of Beatmania IIDX 8th Style. The limited edition is still available for purchase, but unfortunately I bought the regular edition of 8th Style when it came out and I thus do not see myself buying the game again just for the cd (Especially when the limited edition costs $140).

 

[Absorbine_Sr]

I've recently been using Comfortably Numb as well, but not the Floyd version. Dar Williams covers it on her cd "My Better Self", and I really like the recording, not to mention her voice.

A_Sr.

 

[iSleipnir]

I always test new audio gear with the My Bloody Valentine album "Loveless". It's incredibly dense and has a certain timber to it that only a few systems can sort out and make really shine. Especially because a lot of the album employs ghost melodies caused by intersecting soundwaves it fun to see what each peice of audio gear emphasizes or detracts what in the music. .

 

[gordie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhythmicmoose Look into acquiring a copy of the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab remaster. It sounds absolutely stellar. The same goes for pretty much any MFSL release. Especially Meddle. My go-to test songs for headphones are usually the MFSL versions of "Money" (if I can hear the echoes off the walls of the recording studio, the headphones are probably going to get my stamp of approval) and "Fearless". For audio codecs, it's usually "Who Knows" by Jimi Hendrix.

You're right on the Money

about the MFSL version of Dark Side. I got the 30th anniversary remaster CD, and it was so compressed I hated it. I have the 20th anniversary remaster, which is decent (thankfully not nearly as awfully compressed as the 30th), but I also have the MFSL version, and that one sounds the best by far. The bass and dynamics are fantastic on the MFSL version.

Also, I retract my statement about the Wall not sounding good, actually I just went back and relistened and it sounds great - I had an old version of it which didn't sound as good, but the remasters brought it back to life and I was so busy digging the music I never thought about the sound quality. I'll have to track down the MFSL version, I haven't heard that one, but the current "normal" CD of it sounds great.

-- Gordie

 

[mateo05]

Pat Metheny's Secret Story. London Symphony Orchestra + electric guitars/synths/piano/obligatory Metheny madness (like the weird Asian-ish voice effects in Finding and Believing). By far my favorite single album evar; if a headphone can't do this album, forget it.

 

[Coffeegeek]

I have the MFSL version of "The Wall" on CD. I bought it years ago, used, and paid too much for it at the time. Of course these days it's worth a bit more. I haven't even popped it in a CD player for probably 8 years or so. I do however have my "Shine On" box set version here at work. With the HF-1's, my Pa2v2 and my old Aiwa pcdp, "CN" is ok, but not what I would call "knock your socks off". I'm going to guess that the problem is more in the source/amp than the phones. Although "Money" off of DSOTM sounded pretty damn good, especially the sax part. Who knows.... I certainly don't. I'll have to pull out the MFSL version, and see if it's any better.

I also have the original Harvest Japanese printing of DSOTM, which is supposed to be better quality than later versions (but not as good as the MFSL), but I've never had equipment on which I could tell.

*edit* ok, I just got to Gilmour's solo in "CN", and damn... that does sound great, but this setup still pales in comparison to just listening to the HF-1's via the headphone output on my JVC amp.

Chris

 

[uzziah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordie The only problem is Comfortably Numb is so damn good it transcends mere equipment concerns and it sounds good on pretty much everything...

that's really true

also, i think the fact that i listen to the darn song SOOOOOOO much that i can tell subtle differences in equipment.

 

[RsConqueror]

I start out with the Jump to Hyperspace theme from I.M.P.S. And if it doesn't send chills down my spine, I don't even consider em'.
After that I move onto my Trocadero, and ACDC.
Sometimes a bit of linkin park, but in moderation.
A bit of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Oh, also, lots and lots of John Williams.

 

[uzziah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Absorbine_Sr I've recently been using Comfortably Numb as well, but not the Floyd version. Dar Williams covers it on her cd "My Better Self", and I really like the recording, not to mention her voice. A_Sr.

funny, i saw her in concert performing that and i thought she massacred it. i like here voice but most of her songs sound incredibly repititous to me. a few awesome ones though such as "party generation". HOWEVER, i thought the band opening for her was very good. called "girly man".

i'm listening to it right now..........................big MEH for me. can't believe you prefer it to floyd............GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.............dang this cover sucks

to each their own

 

[Purgatos]

I usually use Aphex Twin's Richard D. James album. Not for any specific reason. I just love it.