Which track do you demo to your friends?

I agree with Doug in that I think it's best to play them music that they like and are familiar with on probably mid-fi equipment at best. That said, I personally like Lucinda Williams "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road"-- tracks #7 and #12 for dynamics, imaging, soundstaging,-- well the whole works. And also it's great popular music. I also use Cowboy Junkies, and Enigma. Also, Enya "Paint the Sky with Stars". Cheers. Craig.

Man, I love these posts the most. Thanks for all the suggestions for new music purchases. I spent about 3 hours listening to my favorites pondering this question. (What a pain.) I have used Ms. Pigeon’s “Spanish Harlem” and “The Word Around Town,” as well as several cuts from the “Chesky 10th Anniversary Special Edition”, but I have to settle down to seconding the Lyle Lovett “North Dakota” cut from Joshua Judges Ruth. I also ask them to look around my collection for something they are very familiar with and love to hear. Take care. Charlie

Donald Fagen Nightfly Track 1, Jennifer Warnes Hunter Track 8, Dire Straits Brothers in Arms Track 2

Garfish, I mirror your opionions exactly. I usually let people choose from what I have. But, if they insist on me picking, I either take the title track of Lucinda Williams "Car Wheels On a Gravel Road", or one of many cuts from Southern Culture On the Skids "Dirt Track Date". Usually, people want to be blown away, as they equate power, bass, and loudness to sound quality. Most people don't spend enough time there listening for esoteric things such as microdynamics, low noise floor, soundtaging, detail, etc.(all the stuff we revel in). If you don't play something that rocks, you will often receive a comment such as, "Ah man, c'mon. All that money for that?!? My JBL's blow the doors off your $10K speakers! You really should check out my JBLs, I think they're the best speakers out there."

Trelja, well said. What track(s) might you use if one of "us" came over to audition your system?