Sidney Crosley Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 As in, a record you know really well, and/or that is well-recorded, that you go to as one of your first listens when you get new equipment (whether turntable, amp, speakers, headphones, etc.). Usually mine is either Big Star's #1 Record, Elvis Costello's Get Happy, or more recently, The xx - The xx (for headphones - that album really is incredible with good cans). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebilljim Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 I'm more of a ritual-based listener than a technical one, so I don't have anything that I go to for accurate testing of how much better my equipment sounds...I just throw on an album like Modern Life Is War's "Witness" or Converge's "Jane Doe," something that has a lot of symbolic and personal meaning to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sad Heart Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Dynamic range: Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming Album I know every note: Nirvana - Nevermind (MFSL 24k CD) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecayToDeath Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Harmlessness may be my best-sounding album, but I know every note of The Colour and the Shape...it's one of those albums that I could start listening to, kill the volume, and know exactly where it'll pick up if I randomly put the sound back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grid_stopper Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 violent femmes-s/t any converge album earlier russian circles stuff cursed i&ii Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stampface Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 american football - s/t VinylGyroid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circuit bored records Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Dynamic range: Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming Album I know every note: Nirvana - Nevermind (MFSL 24k CD) Nevermind 24bit/96k flac files FTW. Grohls drums are fucking HUGE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sad Heart Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Nevermind 24bit/96k flac files FTW. Grohls drums are fucking HUGE Yeah, but which version are you talking about? Cause there are many... I've always thought 'the best version of Nevermind' has been an interesting topic. There was a point in my life where I spent about a month hunting down every conceivable version of Nevermind I could get my hands on. I then spent more months analyzing them over, and over, and over again. Comparing dynamic range, clarity, each instrument alone, and all together. I ended up having different version to suit what style I wanted to hear. Sometimes I want punch. Sometimes I want it as clean as possible. Good thing I have choices. What it all came down to is how YOU want it to sound, what you think the best version is. (I did a chart for all of them in Small Talk like a year ago -- this is my favorite album of all time, mind you.) Keep in mind personal preferences, and set ups are going to come into play, obviously (with all albums). Here are my personal favorites: 1.) MFSL 24k CD | FLAC | 12bit | 44.1k ||| This version is so punchy, ambient, bright, and is my personal favorite. Plus you get 'Endless, Nameless'. If you think the drums are huge in the copy you listened to... holy fuck, check this out, NOW. (This is my go to digital copy. This is what I use to test new digital equipment.) 2.) ORG Pallas Vinyl (2013 Repress) | FLAC | 24bit | 96k ||| A lot of people say this is the best, and I don't blame them. It sounds incredible, and has a lot of depth. This is definitely the cleanest version. Best part is that you can get it for $25. (This is my go to vinyl copy, hands down. This is what I spin to test new analog equipment.) 3.) Devonshire Mixes | FLAC | 12bit | 44.1k ||| Oh, man. Butch's original version is just something else. It's hard to really describe hearing this, and comparing it to the Butch/Wallace mix. This is more so a personal contender, and less of a 'best sounding DR wise'. Honorable mentions: 1.) German 2008 Geffen 320 'Back To Black' - a good amount of people say this is the 'best' copy. It's definitely up there for sure. Has a very natural sound to it. Seems they didn't mess with the EQ a lot on this copy. (2nd place for vinyl copies. I spin this one if I want the 'original' sound. You can get this for $20.) 2.) US OG Geffen 1991 - very balanced, but good luck getting a physical copy without breaking the bank. 3.) US 2009 Geffen Pallas ORG (Pretty much the same as the 2013 [my number 2 overall], except more expensive.) If we are going straight audio, without Devonshire: MFSL 24k > ORG Pallas > German 320 'Back To Black' tl;dr Best digital: MFSL 24k / ORG Pallas Best analog: ORG Pallas ___ I don't know why I typed all that at 5AM... Sidney Crosley 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donlombardo Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 I use twothirtyeight - you should be living for trying out new stuff. Amazing record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooks Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Burial - Moth WAXXX 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 I recently (re) discovered my copy of that Nevermind MFSL 24k CD. I bought it like 20 years ago--well before I knew anything about audio--and completely forgot I had it. It's apparently worth a few bucks these days. kind of makes me want to buy a CD player... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themeconspiracy Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 elvis costello - my aim is true Sidney Crosley 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sad Heart Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 I recently (re) discovered my copy of that Nevermind MFSL 24k CD. I bought it like 20 years ago--well before I knew anything about audio--and completely forgot I had it. It's apparently worth a few bucks these days. kind of makes me want to buy a CD player... You can get a CD player cheaper than you can get the 24k CD. Haha. But damn it's worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 You can get a CD player cheaper than you can get the 24k CD. Haha. But damn it's worth it. well...if I get a "cd" player, it's probably going to be an OPPO BDP-103. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sad Heart Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 well...if I get a "cd" player, it's probably going to be an OPPO BDP-103. You're doing it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 OK Computer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooks Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 OK Computer Mm good one. The first few notes of Kid A can tell me a lot about my equipment. I try most headphones out with Everything In It's Right Place. If that bass ain't right, I ain't buying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daegor Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 I don't really have a go-to album to test new equipment, I generally gravitate towards something that I'm currently into that sounds really clean and has lots of bass (think Burial or Massive Attack). However, I had equipment-ruining albums. I've blown out speakers and earbuds to Massive Attack - Mezzanine and lvl - Denial. lvl - Denial in particular because of the bass contrasted with the super gritty/abrasive beats puts a lot of headphones through the ringer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X0ZX3h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooks Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 sounds really clean and has lots of bass (think Burial or Massive Attack). Haha I don't know about Burial sounding very "clean" but I like your taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daegor Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Haha I don't know about Burial sounding very "clean" but I like your taste. Yeah, clean might be the wrong word. "Clear"? "Bright"? Something where I can very clearly distinguish between different sounds/instruments/tones But yeah, you get me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Yeah, clean might be the wrong word. "Clear"? "Bright"? Something where I can very clearly distinguish between different sounds/instruments/tones But yeah, you get me. articulate. EDIT: Not referring to the post. I think the word you are looking for is "articulate". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daegor Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 articulate. EDIT: Not referring to the post. I think the word you are looking for is "articulate". I guess that works? Though only music nerds would understand if I said that an album was "musically articulate", haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebilljim Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 To be fair, you are on a forum populated almost entirely by music nerds. Haha. daegor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parkinglot Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 slowdive - souvlaki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Pretty much anything by Albini or Weston but mostly: Shellac - 10000 Hurts Rodan - Rusty Both A Minor Forest albums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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