Speaker Testing

[c.cloudwalker]

I'm in the market for some new speakers and I use Youn Sun Nah and Claudia Gomez to test their musicality. Women voices and acoustic instruments are the best tests. I never use rock although it is what I listen to mostly, lol.

Deezer's music services are not yet available in your country. (this is weird. The link works just fine for me. Whose country are they talking about?)




However when testing for the spacial placement which is important in a home theatre, I still use "Apocalypse Now" and I'm thinking there is probably better. I'm not a big fan of movies with a lot of special FX but that is what is needed here.

Any suggestion? Please tell me what particular scene, not just a movie, to look for.

Thanks.

 

[DCMoney]

In high school I worked at Circuit City selling TV's and stereo equipment, I think it was Polk Audio that sent out a DVD of scenes/music videos with good sound to show off their speakers. One was Blue Man Group song was "Sing Along" another was the fight scene between The Bride and Gogo in Kill Bill Volume I, last one I can think of is The Crystal Method’s song “Born too slow”.

The kill bill scene was a favorite, it was a real crowd drawer, if we had it up loud enough you could practically feel that ball and chain spinning around you.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Thanks for the Kill Bill idea. Will look it up tonight. And it made me think of two other possibilities: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Heat.

As for music, I like the Blue Man Group quite a bit but I don't use anything with electric or electronic instruments. Who knows what something like the Crystal Method is supposed to sound like? Not to mention the distortion which doesn't help when trying to test speakers.

 

[iresq]

I have a few DTS & THX blu-ray sample DVDs that are perfect to demo speakers.

 

[kundalini]

Back in my audiophile phase, I would use The Dave Brubeck Quartet's Time Out album as the one to carry around to test systems. I've since damaged my ears and can't pick up the nuances as before.

As far as an HT DVD, the beginning of the attack sequence of Pearl Harbor (Affleck's version) is pretty cool, especially before the strike as the planes are coming in.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

As far as an HT DVD, the beginning of the attack sequence of Pearl Harbor (Affleck's version) is pretty cool, especially before the strike as the planes are coming in.

Thanks. I'll have to see if I can find a rental. I know I don't own it cause I didn't much like it

I used to carry around a vinyl jazz sampler put out by Maxwell (I think) that was really great but it's so rare to find a listening room with vinyl player nowadays, so I carry CDs.

 

[kundalini]

Another couple of excellent samplers is GRP - Jazz Vol.1 (1983) and GRP All-Star Big Band - All Blues (1994).

Believe it or not Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker - I've Got the Music in Me (1975). Excellent session players and Thelma can belt it out. Off the Sheffield Labs label.

 

[matthewo]

For music the eagles hotel california

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I have a few DTS & THX blu-ray sample DVDs that are perfect to demo speakers.

And? What's on there?

For music the eagles hotel california

See post #3 for why I wouldn't use the Eagles. But thanks.

 

[mjhoward]

Any type of Latin Jazz I think would show off the musicality of speakers... lots of different kinds of percussion and piano. Lots of people use War of the Worlds as their movie sampler. BTW, what speakers are you looking into?

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

http://www.amazon.com/Jurassic-Ulti...5XRG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325086076&sr=8-1

Use the original Jurassic Park Blu ray. Some of John Williams best work uncompressed.

Also....

http://www.amazon.com/Music-John-Williams-Years-Film/dp/B0000C6K09/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1325086397&sr=8-15]Amazon.com: Jurassic Park: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: John Williams: Music[/URL]​

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Any type of Latin Jazz I think would show off the musicality of speakers... lots of different kinds of percussion and piano. Lots of people use War of the Worlds as their movie sampler. BTW, what speakers are you looking into?

Claudia Gomez is very jazzy. It's definitely south american (she's from Bolivia) in flavor and instruments but with a jazzy feel to it. Does the link not work for you guys?

The CD I have of her is called Salamandra and it's quite beautiful. I also bought it because it's a gold CD edition and because of the recording technique that was used. As an audio engineer, I was fascinated by the fact that they used only two microphones, placed at about the same distance from each other as our ears are. And then they placed the musicians further or closer to the microphones depending on the sound level of the instrument...

War of the World, I guess its the new one with Tom Cruise. Will look into it. Thanks!

Well, the brands of speakers I'm looking into may not be familiar to you because they are mostly French. I'm totally relearning speakers right now because there are brands here I'd never seen in the US. One was sold by my last stereo store in GA and that's Jean Marie Reynaud. I walked into his shop years ago when he was very small and I was so amazed I went back with a musician friend to confirm my opinion

I'm also looking at JM Lab/Focal and Triangle which are both french. Both of them went commercial and so some of the speakers are not really up to snuff for serious listeners but they do have some beautiful stuff in the upper end of the price scale.

I'm also going to take another look at B&W which I remember as being quite nice. And I wrote to my stereo store in GA to get the name of a chinese speaker that he sold that was absolutely amazing...

Now, yesterday I bought a pair of older JM Labs that have me totally enthralled. The cabinets are pretty cheaply finished but the sound is beautifully neutral. With my amp that is. And they are great for someone who can't listen to music very loud. Even at low volume, they have an amazing response. I have no idea what I will do with them yet but for the $30 I spent, I couldn't not take them

Do you have any suggestions of brands to look into?

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Here's a link for Claudia Gomez that should work for you US guys:

Claudia Gomez - Salamandra CD Album

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Amazon.com: Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy (Blu-ray + Digital Copy): Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Vince Vaughn, William H. Macy, Téa Leoni, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, Joseph Mazzello,

Use the original Jurassic Park Blu ray. Some of John Williams best work uncompressed.

Also....

http://www.amazon.com/Music-John-Williams-Years-Film/dp/B0000C6K09/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1325086397&sr=8-15]Amazon.com: Jurassic Park: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: John Williams: Music[/URL]
​

Thanks. Will look into it. Any specific scene/chapter?

 

[mjhoward]

Focal is very good.