I'm interested in your thoughts - Vinyl, tape or CD - on what recordings really create a wonderful soundtage, both broad and deep, to challenge imaging capabilities on a nice 2 channel system. I'm looking for examples to really exercise my system and that can also be used to fine-tune speaker placement etc. I'd like to get examples of:

Rock - Anything reasonably current
Classic Rock - Thoughts on best executed recordings from the 60's - 70's
Jazz - Traditional jazz
Modern Jazz - GRP recordings have been the best for me so far - Others?
Classical - Would think this area may have some of the best recordings
Other - R&B, Country, Folk, Celtic etc.

Please specify details enough to source the material - and media type preference if any.

Chime in on any or all categories you have thoughts / experience with!

Thanks in advance for contributions :thmbsp:

I've said it before, but anything on the ECM label will blow you away. Manfred Eicher is IMO putting out the most richly recorded music in the business. The best of the best includes the following albums: "Achirana" (Vassilis Tsabropoulos, Arild Andersen, and John Marshall); "January" & "Trio" (Marcin Wasilewski Trio), "Lontano" and "Suspended Night" (Tomasz Stanko Quartet). The music itself is fantastic, of course, but the recording is an audioholic's dream.

Older recordings? My favorite, and one of my reference cds for checking tubes, Monica Zetterlund & Bill Evans (from Bill Evans Complete Verve recordings); released separately as "Waltz for Debby," which I'm assuming is the same recording. In any case, for whatever reason, the dynamic range and detail on that cd (original recording from the early 60s) is jaw-dropping. Hard to come by, unfortunately.

Roger Waters, Amused to Death, Columbia CK 47127.

With a well set up system, this disc will produce images to the sides and behind you.

QSound
"This recording was mixed in QSound, a new audio technology producing a wider, more natural sound field."

I suggest you check out Shpongle. All 3 of their albums are out of this world...literally. Its a more ambient/psyechedlic/downtempo style, but boy does it sound spectacular. Their CDs sound excellent, and the vinyl sounds only better. The soundstage they produce is nothing short of stunning. My favorite album by them is their first one, "Are You Shpongled?" (http://www.amazon.com/Are-You-Shpongled-Shpongle/dp/B00000I3V3/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222185304&sr=8-2), second release was "Tales Of The Inexpressible" (http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Inexpressible-Shpongle/dp/B00005L9XR/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222185304&sr=8-10), and third is "Nothing Lasts...But Nothing Is Lost" (http://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Lasts-But-Lost/dp/B0009I9XGK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222185304&sr=8-1). Very very very good music there. I always give em a spin when Im checking out new gear.