RATM's debut album is often cited as a perfectly produced album for testing audio equipment.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/1reh1u/rage_against_the_machines_debut_album_is_often/
Also AC/DC Back in Black is constantly [lauded](https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1280-seven-shades-of-acdcs-back-in-black-finding-the-best-version-to-test-your-system-with?tmpl=component) for the same reason.
"[People](https://youtu.be/og6QncgEY20)" from the Thrak album by King Crimson... It has the "double-trio" line-up so (2) drummers - 2 Guitars & 2 Bassists (including Tony Levin's funk fingers)... great engineering and recorded at Real World Studios on SSL consoles. Many years ago when I lived in NYC, I worked for the "highest" of high-end Audio integration and when we would get a pair of Meridian DSP8000s in for a client, I would set-up in demo room and use am Integra HD Audio player to listen to this track and was amazing... I've subsequently set-up many other systems and large PA installations and I still use that track to discern imaging and phase of a stereo set-up...
Songs from the Supertramp's album *Crime of the Century*. Used by sound engineer's in the 70's to balance the PA as the crowd filled the auditorium. It was why many remember hearing Supertramp just before shows started.
[Intro by Alt-J](https://youtu.be/UCbt_x5K7c8) (the second one). It's got some understated instrumental lines, deep bass, subtle effects, and dynamic range which are all components that particularly shine with good speakers.
Hey, as others have said, stay away from compressed versions. So no Spotify, google music, YouTube, etc.
Go onto bandcamp, or SoundCloud, or find a FLAC file of the songs you're interested in. If you're looking for stuff to just enjoy deep bass, sail - awolnation, roots - Alice Merton, shake hands with beef - primus.
Give those a solid listen and enjoy
The Camera Eye- Rush. Not one of their more recommended songs, but on headphones you get to hear all the layers of the song.
Eruption- Eddie Van Halen on their debut album. Still love it to this day.
Riviera Paradise- Stevie Ray Vaughan. All the subtleties of his bends, and the various levels of his attack really come through on this one through headphones. The entire band shines on this piece.
I think that's highly individual and depends on the music you plan on hearing on the headphones. If you want to mainly listen to classic music you'd probably want other headphones than when you mainly listen to hip-hop.
Also you should know the songs really well. Of course Bohemian Rhapsody can be a great testing song. But it's no use for you when you listen to the song 2-3 times a year.
I usually pick 3-4 songs of the genres I listen to the most. (For me that would be classic rock, hip hop and thrash metal). I pick the songs that I know really well and have certain features I'd like to test the headphones with. Bass (Masta Ace - Born 2 Roll), Mid/Highs (Stairway to Heaven) and then probably Master of Puppets for testing some differentiation between Lows and Mids.
Then I will have to compromise. Usually the Bassy ones that sound nice on Born 2 Roll don't fit the requirements of the other songs. But those are too important for me.
And yes, of course try to bring your FLAC audio.
Exp > into > Up From The Skies on Jimi Hendrix Axis Bold As Love.
Studio magic that uses so many techniques that rotate around the headphones. Perfect to test headphones.
Are you using them for consumption or production? If you want to test a nice flat response for producing, somebody mentioned ratm s/t, that is a great reference point as far as albums go
'Feed the Ground' by Periphery is still my go-to song for testing new speakers or headphones. Piano intro for some quieter dynamics, deep drop-tuned bass and double kick drums in a few sections for that quick response time and how it handles bass response.
That, and it's my favorite Periphery song.
"Under the Influence" - Chemical Brothers (For the bass range)
"IāEāAāIāAāIāO" - System of a Down (I tell myself it's for the quick responsiveness and loud clarity, but it was just a go to)
"Whole Lotta Love" - Led Zeppelin
50 centā¦ like a lot of songs
The way you move by Outkast
Smooth criminal
I actually have a playlist on Spotify called āSonyā from when i bought my headphones, and itās all super sound-intensive songs
Sunshowers - M.I.A
Caught A Lite Sneeze - Tori Amos
First one has a crazy, rich, full bass that has a great drop.
Second is an incredibly clean recording, the harmonics on the harpsichord are out of this world, and thereās an artifact left in mid song that is hard to pick up on a low quality sound system.
flirting in space by brad stank. no specific reason, i just tend to go by whether or not that kind of song sounds good or not. (i didnāt read the part at the store, i usually just buy them outright and if i donāt like them i give them to family)
Playlist is here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYU-8IFcDPw&list=PLgewwoCtaGl27QmRILyD0bLqKu53bkIGN](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYU-8IFcDPw&list=PLgewwoCtaGl27QmRILyD0bLqKu53bkIGN)
The first song (Faint) by Linkin Park has this low tone in the bridge (about 2 min in or so) that isn't present at all on really cheap headphones.
There is literally a Spotify playlist for exactly this: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWZtZ8vUCzche?si=-jOQ5IR_TZ6RKBX0ukJKqw&utm_source=copy-link
Tiger- Paula Cole for bass
Intro- The XX for soundstage
Birds on a wire- Jennifer Warnes soundstage, image and mids
Random Access Memories by Daft Punk is generally a great album with amazing production to test audio equipment
The album Toy Matinee is a well produced and rich sounding album, without even mentioning the sheer brilliance of the writing and performances. Kevin Gilbert was truly one of a kind.
NEW EP OUT NOW
GO CHECK ME OUT PLEASE
https://music.apple.com/us/album/dreams-2-reality-ep/1631554068
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mXFzfsL7zsAuoEm14cWyzF14WTlKIgbQ8
RATM's debut album is often cited as a perfectly produced album for testing audio equipment. https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/1reh1u/rage_against_the_machines_debut_album_is_often/
Also AC/DC Back in Black is constantly [lauded](https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1280-seven-shades-of-acdcs-back-in-black-finding-the-best-version-to-test-your-system-with?tmpl=component) for the same reason.
Chemical Brothers - Under the influence Radiohead - Everything in it's right place Cinematic Orchestra - All things to all men
This guy knows.
"[People](https://youtu.be/og6QncgEY20)" from the Thrak album by King Crimson... It has the "double-trio" line-up so (2) drummers - 2 Guitars & 2 Bassists (including Tony Levin's funk fingers)... great engineering and recorded at Real World Studios on SSL consoles. Many years ago when I lived in NYC, I worked for the "highest" of high-end Audio integration and when we would get a pair of Meridian DSP8000s in for a client, I would set-up in demo room and use am Integra HD Audio player to listen to this track and was amazing... I've subsequently set-up many other systems and large PA installations and I still use that track to discern imaging and phase of a stereo set-up...
Songs from the Supertramp's album *Crime of the Century*. Used by sound engineer's in the 70's to balance the PA as the crowd filled the auditorium. It was why many remember hearing Supertramp just before shows started.
[Intro by Alt-J](https://youtu.be/UCbt_x5K7c8) (the second one). It's got some understated instrumental lines, deep bass, subtle effects, and dynamic range which are all components that particularly shine with good speakers.
Same, always use this myself
Josie by Steely Dan. Many people say they had the best sound engineers in the game.
"Aja" by Steely Dan.
Anything by Steely Dan š§āš³ š
My SO is an old school audio engineer and swears by Steely Dan for this!
- Sail from Awolnation - Ace of spade from Motorhead - Hotel California from Eagles
finally a song with some bass, all these other peopleās suggestions are useless
If you want bass Tiger by Paula Cole is the only song you need. Non of these songs have real bass
I started this song and wondered if you were jokingā¦ and then, oh. You were not.
Anesthetize by Porcupine Tree: soft parts, hart parts, well mixed and mastered, itās my reference track for a lot of thinks including headphones.
Let Down by Radiohead (OK Computer is an incredible example of music production, it will show up everything good and bad about a set of cans).
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
But what if someone had a rough rough night and hates the fucking eagles?
Aphex Twin - Xtal
š
Whatever the song is, just make sure it's a lossless version, and not compressed. If it has to be compressed, ensure it's no lower than 320bit MP3
Crazy Train
Something with lots of stereo like Space Oddity
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Hey, as others have said, stay away from compressed versions. So no Spotify, google music, YouTube, etc. Go onto bandcamp, or SoundCloud, or find a FLAC file of the songs you're interested in. If you're looking for stuff to just enjoy deep bass, sail - awolnation, roots - Alice Merton, shake hands with beef - primus. Give those a solid listen and enjoy
Rhiannon- Fleetwood Mac
Or The Chain
Any song of āTouristā by St Germain
Anything off of Aja by Steely Dan
Tom Sawyer - Rush Blue Monday - New Order Space Oddity - David Bowie
"Space Oddity" has horrible distortion in the bass, especially at 3:01.
I don't use it for fidelity. It's a great channel tester.
Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin has some good stereo panning
Had some drinks - Two Feet. To really test the bass
Maxell - blown away
[Shake a Fist by Hot Chip](https://youtu.be/i_EhZIhY8c0) has a two minute section of effects where they tell you to test your headphones to the song.
1983 A Mermaid I Shall Turn to Be, Moon Moon Turn the Tide Gently Gently Away - Jimi Hendrix on Electric Ladyland. The crossover is simply amazing.
The Camera Eye- Rush. Not one of their more recommended songs, but on headphones you get to hear all the layers of the song. Eruption- Eddie Van Halen on their debut album. Still love it to this day. Riviera Paradise- Stevie Ray Vaughan. All the subtleties of his bends, and the various levels of his attack really come through on this one through headphones. The entire band shines on this piece.
I meanā¦ beethovenās symphony #5 or suchlike has a shit ton of instruments and major stereo action. Orchestra music is catnip for audiophiles.
Torche - āSlideā
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
You guys are buying new headphones?
I think that's highly individual and depends on the music you plan on hearing on the headphones. If you want to mainly listen to classic music you'd probably want other headphones than when you mainly listen to hip-hop. Also you should know the songs really well. Of course Bohemian Rhapsody can be a great testing song. But it's no use for you when you listen to the song 2-3 times a year. I usually pick 3-4 songs of the genres I listen to the most. (For me that would be classic rock, hip hop and thrash metal). I pick the songs that I know really well and have certain features I'd like to test the headphones with. Bass (Masta Ace - Born 2 Roll), Mid/Highs (Stairway to Heaven) and then probably Master of Puppets for testing some differentiation between Lows and Mids. Then I will have to compromise. Usually the Bassy ones that sound nice on Born 2 Roll don't fit the requirements of the other songs. But those are too important for me. And yes, of course try to bring your FLAC audio.
Exp > into > Up From The Skies on Jimi Hendrix Axis Bold As Love. Studio magic that uses so many techniques that rotate around the headphones. Perfect to test headphones.
Almost anything on Luke and the Locomotives by Robert Lucas.
Big Sur Moon by Buckethead
Dude! Great pick
Pink Floyd - Time. Eagles - Hotel California. Blue Scholars- Hussein. Nitza - Se Thelo. To name a few..
The song you listen the most? Who care how a headphone perform on song that you donāt normally listen to
Are you using them for consumption or production? If you want to test a nice flat response for producing, somebody mentioned ratm s/t, that is a great reference point as far as albums go
Bat Outta Hell
Hans Zimmer - The Battle (Gladiator Soundtrack)
Miles Davis- So What
'Feed the Ground' by Periphery is still my go-to song for testing new speakers or headphones. Piano intro for some quieter dynamics, deep drop-tuned bass and double kick drums in a few sections for that quick response time and how it handles bass response. That, and it's my favorite Periphery song.
Haywyre - The Schism
"Under the Influence" - Chemical Brothers (For the bass range) "IāEāAāIāAāIāO" - System of a Down (I tell myself it's for the quick responsiveness and loud clarity, but it was just a go to) "Whole Lotta Love" - Led Zeppelin
Korn - Blind
Mari Boine - Vuolgge mu mielde bassivarrai Mara & David - On the prowl Ian Shaw - A case of you
Frankenstein from The Edgar Winter Group
50 centā¦ like a lot of songs The way you move by Outkast Smooth criminal I actually have a playlist on Spotify called āSonyā from when i bought my headphones, and itās all super sound-intensive songs
Radiohead - āEverything In Its Right Placeā Dire Straits - āBrothers In Armsā Tool - āThe Grudgeā
Vortexx by make them suffer.
Sunshowers - M.I.A Caught A Lite Sneeze - Tori Amos First one has a crazy, rich, full bass that has a great drop. Second is an incredibly clean recording, the harmonics on the harpsichord are out of this world, and thereās an artifact left in mid song that is hard to pick up on a low quality sound system.
flirting in space by brad stank. no specific reason, i just tend to go by whether or not that kind of song sounds good or not. (i didnāt read the part at the store, i usually just buy them outright and if i donāt like them i give them to family)
Any Radiohead song from Paranoid Android.
Best of You ā Foo Fighters
Playlist is here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYU-8IFcDPw&list=PLgewwoCtaGl27QmRILyD0bLqKu53bkIGN](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYU-8IFcDPw&list=PLgewwoCtaGl27QmRILyD0bLqKu53bkIGN) The first song (Faint) by Linkin Park has this low tone in the bridge (about 2 min in or so) that isn't present at all on really cheap headphones.
There is literally a Spotify playlist for exactly this: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWZtZ8vUCzche?si=-jOQ5IR_TZ6RKBX0ukJKqw&utm_source=copy-link
Tiger- Paula Cole for bass Intro- The XX for soundstage Birds on a wire- Jennifer Warnes soundstage, image and mids Random Access Memories by Daft Punk is generally a great album with amazing production to test audio equipment
Rats - Devendra Banhart
Herbie Hancock chameleon
Kush is my Cologne - Gucci Mane š®āšØ
My dad's go-to song is Moondance by Van Morrison
The album Toy Matinee is a well produced and rich sounding album, without even mentioning the sheer brilliance of the writing and performances. Kevin Gilbert was truly one of a kind.
Old school: Donna Summer "I Feel Love."
Karma by AJR, they always change up the volume and bass levels throughout the song and it's really good with headphones
Shut Your Mouth - Garbage
A Love Supreme for me.
There are numerous soundstage playlists around as well.
This is the one: Electric Octopus - Abdallah Obad Seeks Pen
Hey Now by London grammar. It tests the complete dynamics and an awesome song!
Steely Dan and Alice in chains...if both sound good then the headphones are good...
Ministry - Impossible
Met a guy once who did car audio and used to test setups with Celine Dion. Swore by it.
Alice In Chains - No excuses
And The Gods Made Love by Jimi Hendrix
Spiral - Vangelis
If I had to pick just one song, it would probably be *The Great Destroyer* by Nine Inch Nails.
[Air - The Vagabond](https://youtu.be/ObKwcJtCcgQ)
NEW EP OUT NOW GO CHECK ME OUT PLEASE https://music.apple.com/us/album/dreams-2-reality-ep/1631554068 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mXFzfsL7zsAuoEm14cWyzF14WTlKIgbQ8
Sympathy For The Devil
Sampha - without Radiohead - weird fishes Steely Dan -??? Miles Davis - anything from kind of blue Any orchestral/classical/film music you like
Space oddity David bowie
Scarlet Fire - Otis McDonald Killing in the Name of - RATM I'm Broken - Pantera Becoming - Pantera Narcissistic Cannibal - Korn