What are some of the greatest sounding albums to test out a new stereo system?

Question

Does anybody know of any album that is amazing in terms of music and sound quality and would be perfect for listening sessions with a new stereo system?

Answer 1

To test out a new stereo system, several Sophisticated sounding Albums which can be played includes, ‘Till the Sun Turns Black’ by Ray LaMontagne, Karnivool’s ‘Sound Awake’ for heavy rock, ‘Songs from the Big Chair’ by Tears for Fears, ‘Superunknown’ by Soundgarden, and ‘Let It Bleed’ by The Rolling Stones. Such great albums are often used for audio test as they sound great in quality.

Comments

The entire Brothers in Arms album by Dire Straits. But especially "Your Latest Trick" and "Why Worry". The sonic atmosphere of the Neve 8078 (serial A4792) mixing console on that album has stayed with me for decades.

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I would also add Brothers in Arms for its incredible sounds. Every Steely Dan record could be on the list, e.g. Aja, but just listen to the sounds on "Two Against Nature" and "Everything Must Go". For example "Blues Beach" is so much "in the pocket" as Rick often says... And finally, Fagen's 1st solo album The Nightfly is just amazing. When you put on "I.G.Y.", the sounds don't get much better than that.

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Rick - I was hoping you didn't miss this one but you did! One of the best sounding albums for me is Supertramp's Breakfast In America. The entire album sounds awesome the way it was recorded. Give it a listen with headphones. Also anything by Level 42.

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Miles Davis Kind of Blue is an amazing sounding record.

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For me, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours was one of the best sounding albums I owned. Steely Dan's Aja and Elton John's Greatest Hits album from '74 also stood out as being really great sounding albums.