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  • Bass:
    TRON Legacy Soundtrack -> Original -> CD1 -> Track 12
    Daft Punk - End of Line (FLAC or better)


    Pure digital, no vocals. Xmax and failing surrounds will be revealed if you get carried away. It'll also have police tapping their feet in beat as they wait for you to answer your front door if you hear them knocking before they enter uninvited.

    There are remixes out there. None of them come close to this true original track IMO. It starts strong, heavy and gets heavier from there. Structural impact should be noted for this one. With a powerful system really cranked this sucker can damage a house.

    Outstanding for finding vases and other objects the wife has sitting on slick surfaces needing secured before they dance off to their death.

    Here's a sample of End of Line from the tube but doesn't do justice. When I light up my Oppo using a pure track with no "noise" buried it's a fun one:

    Bass:
    TRON Legacy Soundtrack -> Original -> CD1 -> Track 15
    Daft Punk - Solar Sailer (FLAC or better)

    Pure digital, no vocals. This one is a mellow start with a nice float-along feel. Once the low kicks in it'll set your walls into a sustained tremble rate taking down loose hanging pictures. Great for finding things your wife barely hung.

    Also great for isolating frame corners, light fixtures, window blinds and all other objects rattling that need padding.






    Bass:
    Boston Acoustics Bass Test Cd -Woofer Cooker (FLAC or better)


    Believe this goes down into and below 20hz and keeps it active while the rest of the stuff plays in the higher ranges. The woofer cooker warning is no joke. This thing is very dangerous to your sub at too high a volume.


    Personal note - lucky house layout factors:

    In my favor, the living room of our home is designed right in the middle of a 2K+ sq'. It does effectively isolate it as best normal walls can. We also have a large very dense couch that does, measurably, attenuate the bass. When behind the couch, staring straight ahead toward the media wall and media center (and where the subs are) the depth and power of the lows are reduced preventing them from hitting a wall 45+ feet in front of them. Without that couch it would be hitting that wall like a freight train.

    My neighbor on that side is pretty old, but none the less, the more I can save any of them the displeasure of hearing music they may hate (that we love) while keeping the volume at our levels the better.

    Layers of walls surrounding the large central living room are key here and I really dig it since we can blast this place beyond club levels. When the drink is flowing my Esoteric based LCR + 2x Infinity Perfect 12.1 subs give whatever level we can stand, and easily exceed it too which is amazing actually.

    A back yard large enough to dissipate the audio prevents rattling (too badly) windows of homes on that next street. The front is nothing but a driveway to the street.

    All-in-all it's a wonderful configuration allowing a mind-bending, party-loud environment without the police being called on me.

    Rock on!
    Last edited by Thump; 09-03-2018, 08:51 AM. Reason: Enhanced
    Feel free to rip my assumptions apart when wrong, or fix if close.

    Passive Radiators:
    All PR(s) Vd must at-least double all woofer(s) Vd. Calc = Sd x Xmax to get Vd for all PR(s) and all woofer(s). If all PR(s) Vd at-least double all woofer(s) Vd they'll work.
    For woofer(s) with large Xmax vs Sd, all PR(s) with Xmax at-least double all woofer(s) Xmax will work.
    A PR max weight is said to be its Mms x3

    PR Systems - tight focus with key parameters.
    PR Speaker Design - thorough coverage.

    Comment


    • El-Harpo by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Live duel between harmonica and a pipe organ and a piano.

      Comment


      • I believe, to get the best out of a speaker test, it's best to choose from a range of songs you have some familiarity with... so I usually go with soundtracks at firsts. They tend to be full bodied (full spectrum with great timbre as it's orchestral) and have that swell of sound you are accustomed to (and you get to sing or hum along).

        superman theme song- John williwams
        Raiders of the lost arc theme - John williams
        empirial March - John Williams
        chariots of fire - vangelis
        led zepplin for stereo and timbre
        yellow submarine- Beatles for timbre
        Ac/dc for in your face rock
        Bach cello suit 1 - yo yo ma. Shows off the subtlety .
        finally
        Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
        chain - Fleetwood Mac
        Last edited by Fractals; 12-11-2018, 11:29 AM.

        Comment


        • Chris Cornell - Unplugged In Sweden (Full Album)

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Qjk9LqDvw

          Comment


          • Here are my Sweet 16 to test all aspects of speaker performance:

            1 Hey Nineteen Steely Dan
            2 Rosanna Toto
            3 Whole Lotta Love Led Zeppelin
            4 Caribbean Blue Enya
            5 Sultan Of Swing Dire Straits
            6 Lucky Man Emerson, Lake & Palmer
            7 Roxanne Police
            8 Orinoco Flow Enya
            9 Babylon Sisters Steely Dan
            10 Year of the Cat Al Stewart
            11 Pick Up the Pieces Average White Band
            12 Walk on the Wild Side Lou Reed
            13 The Chain Fleetwood Mac
            14 Run Like Hell Pink Floyd
            15 Bohemian Rhapsody Queen
            16 Riviera Paradise Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

            Comment


            • While I have not looked through all 8 pages, I would add these two albums:
              Group 87 (first album)
              UFO TOFU - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (or their Flight of the Cosmic Hippo album)
              (my apologies if these have been mentioned already.)

              Comment


              • Originally posted by THX1136 View Post
                While I have not looked through all 8 pages, I would add these two albums:
                Group 87 (first album)
                UFO TOFU - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (or their Flight of the Cosmic Hippo album)
                (my apologies if these have been mentioned already.)
                i've got 'flight of the cosmic hippo' on my test track list.....if you've never heard it on a good setup it's a must hear! brings out bass into a whole new dimension.

                Comment


                • A few I have been rocking this past week to finalize a recent build...

                  Run Fay Run - Isaak Hayes
                  Zero 7 - Destiny [ the whole "simple things" album is great]
                  Rush - Cowboy Bebop OST
                  Snarky Puppy - We Like it here [ the whole album ]

                  Comment


                  • Don Byron's "Bug Music". Small-group jazz arrangements from the 1930's and '40's re-imagined for a modern sensibility. The music may not be to everyone's taste (I happen to love it), but it is without question one of the best recorded and mastered productions I've heard. If you've never heard a muted cornet, you'll know what one sounds like after listening to a couple of pieces here. Clarinet, also sax, snare kit ... everything is crystal clear, forward, and executed by some of the best players in the game. A great recording for speaker positioning as well.

                    Comment


                    • Artist: Michael Jackson
                      Album: Thriller
                      Song: PYT

                      Artist: Elton John
                      Album: One Night Only (greatest hits live)
                      Song: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
                      YO

                      Comment


                      • That's a screen name I haven't seen in a while!
                        Welcome back!
                        Wolf
                        "Wolf, you shall now be known as "King of the Zip ties." -Pete00t
                        "Wolf and speakers equivalent to Picasso and 'Blue'" -dantheman
                        "He is a true ambassador for this forum and speaker DIY in general." -Ed Froste
                        "We're all in this together, so keep your stick on the ice!" - Red Green aka Steve Smith

                        *InDIYana event website*

                        Photobucket pages:
                        https://app.photobucket.com/u/wolf_teeth_speaker

                        My blog/writeups/thoughts here at PE:
                        http://techtalk.parts-express.com/blog.php?u=4102

                        Comment


                        • Artist: Selena Gomez
                          Album: Rare
                          Song: Dance Again

                          Track main features:
                          1. Quick LR phase difference transition and bringing vocals to mono (0:25)
                          2. 9Hz material at -6 dBFS
                          3. FR flat down to 15Hz




                          Artist: Michael Jackson
                          Album: Bad
                          Song: Bad

                          Track main features:
                          1. Really well engineered
                          2. FR flat down to 29Hz





                          Artist: Beth Hart
                          Album: Front And Center (Live from New York)
                          Song: Love Gangster

                          Track main features:
                          1. 20dB dynamic peaks
                          2. FR flat down to 20Hz
                          3. piano, bass guitar, drums





                          Artist: Hans Zimmer
                          Album: Live in Prague Disc 1
                          Song: Main Theme

                          Track main features:
                          1. 24dB dynamic peaks
                          2. FR flat down to 10Hz
                          3. piano, bass guitar, percussion - lots of details

                          When they don't make what you need - DIY;
                          Listening Position - Standing, 20 feet back

                          Comment


                          • SOUND QUALITY ASSESSMENT MATERIAL RECORDINGS FOR SUBJECTIVE TESTS https://tech.ebu.ch/publications/sqa...7p3nA3n8YI1_Z8

                            Comment


                            • Julian Bream
                              Bream plays Segovia and Alvarez
                              Track 2.
                              This recording can bring out differences in amplifiers. Lessor amps will sound more metallic.

                              Amanda McBroom
                              Growing up in Hollywood Town
                              The Rose, Amanda, etc.
                              A very clean Sheffield recording that should make any male melt. Slightly odd voice that if right, really is right.

                              Harry James
                              The King James Version
                              Track 2
                              Another Sheffield. The horns when played at realistic levels wil really show you if you have any tweeter distortion issues.

                              Joan Baez
                              Diamonds and Rust
                              Diamonds and rust
                              Her voice is again a bit odd. Less than great equipment makes it sound "off"

                              Joni Mitchel
                              Ladies of the Canyon
                              Any
                              Like Baez, if anything is amiss, it adds an edge to her voice.

                              An advantage is I know these so well, I can even take a CD to a store and get reliable assessment. There is some great stuff listed in this thread! I should check my stock.

                              Comment


                              • Julian Bream plays Segovia and Alverez. The slightest thing wrong with an amp will make the strings too metallic.
                                Any Joni Mitchel or Joan Baez. Their voices can make some speakers way go off. Critical midrange clarity.
                                Dave Grusin, Discovered again, second track. Has excitement that tests speakers midrange clarity with md/upper bass at the same time.
                                Harry James Discovered again. Another clean Sheffield recording. tweeter breakup will make the horns sound harsh. He does not play harsh like the Buddy Rich band does.
                                Amanda Mcbroom, growing up in Hollywood town. Amanda or the Rose. It that does not melt a man, you are not a man.
                                The opening applause on Clapton Unplugged, a really bad recording, but can sound worse if things are not right.
                                Osawa doing Beethoven's 5th. He just gets more energy and it should come through compared to others.

                                I see a lot of great stuff mentioned, but unfortunately very bad recordings. Beatles and Moody Blues in particular. 461 Ocean Blvd was embarrassing for quality of recording. Music great though. Male vocals tend to be easy. Female much harder. Acoustic instruments are more revealing. Going to have to track down some of these recommended. There is always more good music to be found!

                                Comment

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