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June 15, 2009 - 3:49pm
#1
is there such a thing as a standard LP test set?
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Shure used to make a test LP. ERA IV TTR-115
Columbia used to make a test LP. STR-100
Stereo Review used to make a test LP. SR 12
Any or all of the above may be available on e-pray, Amazon or another site.
Most test records that reviewers and others use are records that they are very familiar with. They are almost always personal choices. Musical tastes are different and so is everyone's gear.
For me it depends on the time of day, how I feel, if I got laid last night or almost anything else. For musical test LP's you have to develop your own favorites.
Hi-Fi News & Record Review still makes a test LP
The links below will direct you to test LP's currently in print and available
http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-Store/LP-Test-Records
http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=10160
http://www.1stintunes.com/shopdisplaypro...2Ehtm&bc=no
The HiFi New and Record Review LP works very well. But the real key if you are using a pivoting arm is the right protractor.
The vinyl engine has several protractors you can print out. They also have tutorials on using them, and on general TT and cartridge setup. I have posted a link to the page below. You may have to sign up to access the page.
http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge-alignment-protractors.shtml
Thanks!
I have a few of the recommended test (setup) records - I guess I am more concerned with selecting musical records that audiophiles/the industry as a whole (although this itself is unlikely!) would approve of for subjective listening evaluation. You mentioned that the selection is not set in stone - but if its not, how can one evaluation be compared to another, if the specific test is not repeated using the same music? Again, sorry for my naivety in this regard
They can't be compared. Listening to music is subjective. It's not a test. For instance, lots of people use PF Dark Side OF The Moon for auditioning. I can't stand DSOM or Pink Floyd. It comes back to what I wrote earlier, audition music is personal you have to choose your own.
Listen to things you like. You're going to be listening to that more.
I will say that if you can pick a variety of sources, you can uncover problems in a proposed system (i.e. pipe organ vs. percussion for continuous energy vs. peaks, male and female vocals for listening for midrange problems.) that may guide your choice.
Thanks again Joe. You did mention however, that "lots of people" use DSOM. This is the kind of thing I'm actually interested in knowing. I would assume that I would use material that I am familiar with, but if there are standards such as DSOM, or say, Aja, or a particular recording of a Mahler symphony, I am interested in knowing 1) what these recordings are, and 2) why a large number of people hold these in high regard.
Thanks again!
I think you are still missing the point. It's not what others think is good. It's what you, yourself think is good. If you happen to think DSOM is worthy of being audition material OK. Don't use it for that purpose unless you personally feel it's "good". DSOM is used by people as audition material because they are Pink Floyd fans to begin with.
Another example; Jazz At The Pawn Shop, has for a long time been a staple in some peoples demo material. Admittedly, it is a great recording. However, to me it's always sounded like a collection of over enthusiastic amateurs trying to play just out of their league.
Some of my audition material
Donald Fagen, The Nightfly LP
For Duke, The Ellington All Stars, Direct to Disk LP
Here's To Ben, Jacintha, Live to 2 track to CD
Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus Mono LP
Kind Of Blue, Gold Columbia CD
If others would list some of their audition selections I'm reasonably certain that there will be a lot of different artists and selections.
Demo/audition material has only two qualifications. You yourself have to 1. Think it's a good recording and 2. Like the music.
Should I have said Miles Davis recorded Kind Of Blue?
Repeated with emphasis.
I did breakdown and list some of mine! KOB is probably not on a lot of lists. I've been listening to it since 1967. It was one of the first 3LP's I purchased. The other 2 being Aretha Franklin, I Never Loved A Man and The Ramsey Lewis Trio, The In Crowd. I know every note, fluff, miss and extraneous noise. I've bought the original vinyl 4 times over the years. It's also in my collection as the new 45RPM release, the LP re-release and all three versions released on CD.
I have three that are my standards for checking any cartridge or turntable setup.
#1 is the OPUS 3 TEST RECORD 1 (DEPTH OF IMAGE); I'm not sure if it is available new any more.
#2 is the Shostakovich Symphony #9/ Lieutenant Kije Suite on Everest, SDBR 3054, currently available new from Music Direct and others.
#3 is the Pictures at an Exhibition recording by Fritz Reiner/Chicago Symphony , RCA Victor Living Stereo, also at
Music Direct etc.
There are some other OPUS 3 records that I use, but I very much doubt that they are available unless you find them used somewhere.
Another excellent recording, from the 1970s, is the Tchaikovsky Symphony #1 by Michael Tilson Thomas/ Boston Symphony on Deutsche Gramophone; both an incomparable performance and a good test (but alas, only available used, and never reissued on CD, which is a crime!).
P.S.- It had been a while since I searched for the above recording on CD; the Michael Tilson Thomas Tchaikovsky Sym. #1 IS now available; DG has reissued it...I found it on Amazon