Music to test systems

The answer would probably depend on my mood. Limited to five, and pressed to choose right now, the list is below:

(1) Joni Mitchell "Hejira' Asylum 7E 1087
(2) Charlie Haden "Closeness" A&M SP-710
(3) Roger Waters "Amused to Death" Columbia LC0162
(4) Stevie Ray Vaughn "Couldn't Stand the Weather" Epic FE39304
(5) Dead Can Dance "Into the Labyrinth" 4AD Records DAD3013

All these choices are in LP format. There would be a different list for CD, as I do not often duplicate titles. I could change my selection if ask again this time next week. This has to do with what is currently being played on my own system, making the jump to another system and environment a bit less difficult.

Albert is absolutely right(not to say his list is the list to use, no offense Albert) on the idea of using music you have been listening to recentely. It is what you have most recently heard and therefore is the best/most recent reference you have and nothing is better then that. Best of luck, :-)Tim

Abstract7; interesting thread. Like some have noted above, my list will change over time-- but slowly. All are CDs.
1. Holly Cole "Temptation"; female vocal timbre, background noise.
2. Enigma "Cross of Changes"; Bass, dynamics, PRT.
3. Cowboy Junkies "The Caution Horses"; female vocal timbre, detail, and relaxation effect.
4. JJ Cale "Guitar Man"; Pace, Rhythm, and Timing; also male vocal timbre.
5. Lucinda Williams "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road"; an HDCD disc; Soundstaging, female vocals.

I don't specifically buy "audiophile" CDs. All the above CDs can also be used to check tonal balance, which should be an assumed characteristic of any well recorded CD. Cheers. Craig.

Albert, ATD is my alltime, all time favorite cd.Truly a workout for the system, and the room.Female voice: Karen Carpenter. (brother can you spare a nail?) Her voice melts me down.

Great choices so far. Here is my list, for what it is worth... 1) Lucinda Williams "Car Wheels On a Gravel Road" - dynamic, voice of coffee mixed with diesel fuel, excellent sense of guitar strings. 2) Dar Williams "Mortal City" - one of the most divine women's voices around, angelic, great acoustic guitar work. 3) The Cure "Mixed Up" - not for the bass shy, an excellent representation of modern music. 4) Steely Dan "Aja" - so much to offer for testing; male voice, instruments, drum kit on Aja, variation in pace, dynamics, etc. 5) John Coltrane "Blue Train" - an essential jazz piece, the required jazz instruments, contains both the smooth and frenetic sides of Coltrane.