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Re: Car audio "test" music preferences Posted by Randy Thatcher [Email]  (#22)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Randy Thatcher) on Wed, 5 Dec 2001 16:41:56
In Reply to: Car audio "test" music preferences, MS, Wed, 5 Dec 2001 15:45:17 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I have a big audio rig in my house, stock system in 9-3 base, and all blaupunkt system in my wife's 1990 SPG. To give you perspective, my home system uses a turntable rig worth more than the SPG, I have 2 sets of speakers each worth more than the SPG, and the preamp retails for what I paid for the SPG. The output tubes on the amp go for $900...
So, what do I go for when doing a demo at home? First, I pick music I know best. Quality of recording doesn't matter much here. If I have heard it 1000 times, and the new tweak/speaker/component/whatever reveals something you haven't heard before, I'm probably going in the right direction.
I then go through a few "lighter" cd's to test timbre, tonality, musicality, detail, etc. These discs are typically artists I'm very familier with: Clannad (old, acoustic, folky 70's stuff), Natalie Merchant, Dead Can Dance, Arc Choir (Mapleshade Records), Simon and Garfunkel, Charles Mingus.
If I can hear all the things that make me happy with this, then it's time to crank it up a bit. Can the system handle my more everday listening: rock. Try some REM (good mix of acoustic and electric), some electric blues, whatever CD's/LP's I've been enjoying. This is also a "listener fatigue" test. If you're going to drop hard earned cash on audio gear, it better not give you a headache after an hour of listening!
Now the true test... If it does the details thing right... and imaging, and soundstage, and sounds musical. Can it really rock out? This is when I break out Slayer, Metallica, Assuck, Beethoven's 9th, and Carmina Burana. Note, I have yet to hear a metal album that was mixed for an audiophile home system. The mix is always wrong. But, if the system doesn't break up, it's probably good to go.
For the car, I'd say try the same methodology. But there is no way I'll be happy with sound in a car, so I just put enough gear in to make me happy. It would take thousands of dollars to make a world class car audio system, yet still have issues like road noise and potential theft.
Some CD's:
Look at Mapleshade Records. Smaller artists, AMAZING sound quality. The music is hit or miss. Some big hits for me: ARC Choir (gospel, amazing imaging and depth tests, and dynamics. Only sounds truly dynamic on horn speakers). Also try Bad Influence: Live at Bad habits Cafe.
Dead Can Dance: Spritchaser & Toward the Within
Metallica: Ride the Lightning, Kill 'em All, Justice
Apocalyptica: anything
Natalie Merchant: any of 'em
Slayer: Reign in Blood or South of Heaven
Beethoven: Ode to Freedom - Bernstein 9th Symphony
Mingus: Mingus Ah Um
Miles Davis: Tribute to Jack Johnson
Assuck: Anticapital
Clannad: In Concert
REM: Life's Rich Pagaent
Uz Jsme Doma: Ears
Dr. Dre: Chronic or 2001
Bottom line... I go for some audiophile tracks, but give the system a rundown all the different styles of music you listen to. I've heard systems that are cut out for small group jazz, but can't handle rock (small electrostaics come to mind). I've also hear great rock systems that butch chamber music. I go for the all around performer that will keep me happy 95% of the time...
Randy
1990 SPG
2000 9-3
posted by 63.161.8...
, Mon, 10 Dec 2001 19:38:40
, Thu, 6 Dec 2001 11:09:48, Wed, 5 Dec 2001 16:52:29
, Wed, 5 Dec 2001 17:16:46, Wed, 5 Dec 2001 16:41:56 <-- Viewing This Message
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