I figured since that's what this forum is ultimately about, I wanna get some input on what you guys think is necessary listening, or just good tracks to test your setup. When you answer, state artist and album and why it's good. If anyone posts any rap made after 2000, I'll personally find a way to ban you (that's coming from a devout hip-hop lover too). I'll start with a few choices:
Gerald Albright - Live at Birdland West
This CD is one of my two reference albums. The most important track is song 2, Georgia on my Mind. This song has some of the most insane dynamics and impact that you've ever heard. It'll stretch your system from low to high. If you cringe at the sax notes, your tweeters need to be attenuated, and if you think the bass sounds muddy, it isn't; your woofers are just sloppy. No speaker I've ever heard on this track has ever been without fault.
Diana Krall - Girl in the Other Room / Look of Love / Live in Paris
All three of these albums are phenomenal. The vocals are what you want to look for, as Krall will test your mids for weakness, and if its there, she'll sound hollow or will screech. The only speakers to ever produce her voice ideally are some large Definitives I tried to clone and my 871s full ranges. Nothing else comes close
Fourplay - Elixir
This album, especially "Why Can't It Wait Till Morning" are wonderful for full range sounds that you wouldn't expect. WCIWTM's opening consists of light and airy flutes, plucked guitar, jazz guitar, bass and Phil Collins. All in all, WCIWTW akes this album my other reference album. The track after WCIWTM is straight dynamics and impact like you've never seen or imagined.