The reason I ask is I helped set one up yesterday - and we had to choose what to play first to test it out.
Shaggy - Angel. I don’t even like the song that much but the mixing engineer really did his job on this one. The mix is outstanding.
But more important is that you play a song you know well so you know how it should sound.
For the record we went with shine on you crazy diamond from wish you were here with the quiet opening and punch when the rest of the band kicks in. Sounded great.
and then just let the rest of the album play through
Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden / first track
I’m going with “Change of The Guard” by Kamasi Washington because it’s amazing. “ The Leper Affinity “ by opeth is a close second.
Probably something akin to a left-right audio test so I know the system is working properly.
The first time I DJd in a club, I dropped this track purely so I could hear it over a big expensive system. And it was glorious.
Emptied the dance floor, but it was worth it.
Everybody’s Talkin’ by Harry Nilsson
Tough question…
If I want to test it out it might be something like Tipper.
But, in reality, it would probably be something from my favourite album pile like NIN, Squarepusher, Allman Brothers, Four Tet, Caribou or something from the 90s.
I always use Skinny Puppy’s ‘Jahya’ of the ‘The Process’ album to check new audio installations.
I know exactly how that track is supposed to sound. From the panning between speakers to the EQ levels.
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain, but either from a cd/vinyl or properly ripped flac.
I like flac as it’s versatile and I can transcode it without fear but it would surely take an actual mutant with a few million in stereo equipment to tell the difference between flac and a decent lossy rip.
Basically anything by State Azure. Beautiful tracks mastered very well.
For bass testing - 3:25 from “Why So Serious” from the Dark Knight soundtrack. Serious sub-bass warning if you try it yourself, though.
Hysteria by Muse.
Leaving Hope by Nine Inch Nails
I got into the LP game late, and the first record I bought and played was Metallica’s Master of Puppets. Still think it was a good choice.
