What "regular" CD do you use to to compare CD players?

Emmbee

Well-Known Member

• Jan 10, 2013

• #1

I'm going back and forth between a few different players and looking for just the right CD or CDs for comparison.

 

Naptown Rob

Ponographer

• Jan 10, 2013

• #2

I would just use any disc that I'm very familiar with.

 

frommerstop

Super Member

• Jan 11, 2013

• #3

I have several "standard discs" that I know really well, and use to evaluate equipment.
Rob Wasserman's "Duets" (MCAD 42131) &
Prokofiev: Cinderella Andre Previn/London symphony Orchestra on EMI (CDC 7 47969)
jump first to mind as really good references for me.

 

T

TLCW

Active Member

• Jan 11, 2013

• #4

I pick 1 CD of each : Orchestral, Chamber/ Sonata, Vocal (Female) , Hard Rock -which I hear most.
for tests on details, soundstage, air (decay). tonal balance,, sweetness, dynamic.
My priorities are in the same order as listed both in music and CDP performance preferences.
My understanding is : If details is not from the source (CDP) , amp & speakers can scarcely do much about it while Speakers have a lot to do in Dynamics.

 

Last edited: Jan 12, 2013

W

wayward91

Active Member

• Jan 11, 2013

• #5

Something you know well, and a verity of music... I doubt it will be to the taste of many on here but deadmau5's new album was my first choice.

 

Last edited: Jan 11, 2013

RamblinE

(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻

• Jan 11, 2013

• #6

Transformer by Lou Reed works well for me.

 

soundboy

Super Member

• Jan 11, 2013

• #7

Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms

The track "Your Latest Trick" is stunning to test a speaker's imaging

 

Emmbee

Well-Known Member

• Jan 13, 2013

• #8

I've found "brothers in arms" works well as well as "dark side of the moon" and Charlie Mingus "Ah Umm"

 

cratz2

Addicted Member

• Jan 13, 2013

• #9

I've never really compared CD players against each other, but I've compared the built-in DAC to two other DACs. I found that the biggest improvements I could hear - esp when the differences in gear were subtle - was in well-recorded classical and live jazz recordings. Very often it's the 'room' that reveals the biggest differences.

I used to like to use the Hickox version of Carmina Burana, the Shaw/Telarc recording of Mozart's Requiem and Michael White's New Year's Eve Live.

 

RandyFloyd76

Well-Known Member

• Jan 13, 2013

• #10

Donald Fagen "The Nightfly"

 

SuperjazzyJa

18 Wheel Member

Subscriber

• Jan 13, 2013

• #11

For starters, as a few have pointed out, something you're familiar with. I would also suggest, as with amps and speakers, something with good frequency range and dynamic range. I made up a cd with "Save the Best for Last" by Vanessa Williams, "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica and a few other songs that really test the ability of the gear.

 

poppachubby

Boo Yaka! Boo Yaka!

• Jan 13, 2013

• #12

 

guiller

Toscaninichus Australis

• Jan 14, 2013

• #13

Telarc CDs are very good for this, e.g. this recording:

 

Wes_in_VA

Super Member

• Jan 14, 2013

• #14

I have few CD's I use for comparing any new stuff:

Norah Jones "Come Away With Me"
Fantastic recording, and great for assessing the upper end of the midrange
Osamu Kitajima "Osamu"
This one covers just about everything well. Truly a favorite test cd and just really great music.
Boz Scaggs "Dig"
Male vocals, bass response
Little Feat "Waiting for Columbus"
Great for hearing dynamics and for comparing soundstage

 

E

ej88

New Member

• Jan 14, 2013

• #15

The remastered 90125 by Yes or any of the remastered Dire Straits discs, esp. Love Over Gold. These are some of the best recordings I've come across.