So, you’ve bought your brand new speakers – be it our award-laden Zeppelin ipod system, the equally heavily awarded 685s or a gleaming pair of 802 Diamond – and you’re lining up your favourite music to test them on.
We want to know what you’ve found sounds the best. Which stand-out track would you play when your friends come round and you want to really show them off, or perhaps justify why you bought them to your partner.
It might be that you hear something new in an old favourite that you’d never heard before or that suddenly it sounds as if Keith Richards is playing in front of you.
The Daily Growl from Lambchop’s Is A Woman sounds brilliant on my 684′s – there is a beautiful depth and warmth and a really immediate live feel that always makes people ask who the artist is.
We’d love to hear from you on what makes your speakers sing.
On my Old Denon PMD 1060 i listen to:
- Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring.
With a great drum solo on the intro…
- Roger Waters – Amused to Death.
- Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms – Listen to So Far Away , the tone of the voice of Mark Knopfler on This song is great.
- REM – Automatic for the People – Nightswimming – Great atmosphere and beautiful Emotions in the voice of Michael stipe.
- Marillion – Brave – A remark in the CD booklet is “play it loud with the lights out” – Just do IT!!!!!!!! and You’ll see!!!
Posted: Saturday, 6 June 2009alanis morrissets mary jane is incredible
Posted: Saturday, 6 June 2009on my 683 and put a spell on you ccr the feedback on the guitar sounds like the amp is in the room amazing
Diana Krall, Blue Man Group, Shakti on my 605′s sounds awesome ….
Posted: Sunday, 7 June 2009Every part of my system was bought after listening to ‘Now we are free’ from the Gladiator soundtrack.
Diana Krall – ‘I could drink a case of you’ from Live in Paris is stunning.
In fact I agree with another poster, John, who says that female vocals always win.
For movies, switch to DTS and run the opening battle scene from Gladiator. From the rustling of the corn through Maximus’ fingers, the robins’ wings fluttering, through to the brute force of the Mars Bringer of War style battle score I’m rivetted. And so is anyone else I’ve sat in the middle of it.
Posted: Sunday, 7 June 2009Who needs a subwoofer when you have 602s3s up front?
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – by Jacques Louissier Trio – this was a demo disc when I selected last CD player NAD C545BEE played through NAD 370 Amp to B&W Matrix 804 speakers with small Missions at the back
Posted: Sunday, 7 June 2009I absolutely love Stevie Ray Vaughn’s:
Posted: Sunday, 7 June 2009Rivera Paradise. It was what was played for me in the audio room when I bought my speakers and it sold me on their quality of sound.
I have a pair of B&W 683 in my room and listen to almost all genres. Mostly rock, hard rock, metal. But if I’m going to buy a new pair of speakers I’ve got at short list of what I came up with now.
Bill Withers – Lovley day
Posted: Sunday, 7 June 2009Anna Ternheim – My secret
Dire Straits – Money for nothing
Nils Lofgren – You
Prodigy – Spitfire
The Knife – Like a pen
Scorpions – Money and fame
Second the Leftism album. In this genre the In-Sides album by Orbital and Poney pt1 by Vitalic.
The best quality live album I’ve heard is the Corrs Unplugged, Andrea’s voice is crystal clear.
Posted: Sunday, 7 June 2009on my ccm50 and asw2 my choise is Monster Magnet with the song spacelord
Posted: Sunday, 7 June 2009I listen to hard rock,pop, metal,etc.
Posted: Sunday, 7 June 2009I have 603s3 with rotel 1062 amp+951 cd player and supra ply 3.4s bi-wire.
They sound great with Depeche Mode, Def Leppard, Metallica, paradise lost, etc…
Dire Straits where do you tink you’re going (lp)
Posted: Monday, 8 June 2009Roger Waters Perfect Sense
Antonella Ruggiero Solo tu (registrazioni moderne)
Pink Floyd Shine On You Crazy Diamond
cdm7se
I’m fortunate to have Chord Electronics CPA400/SPM1400E pre/power + B&W 802s + Nordost Valhalla cabling.
Posted: Monday, 8 June 2009Eclectic music tastes, but for demo showing power & range Wojciech Kilar’s Dracula theme and for notes that just hang, shimmering in the air Enrique Iglesias’ Hero.
I have a 302 speakers with paradigm ps100 sub for low fq. I listen tons of music, I really love the guitars and femenine voices in this small speakers. My favorites are, Natalie Merchant(tiger lily), Alison Krauss (Live with Union Station), Caty Melua (Pictures), Maria Rita (segundo), Amy Winehouse (Frank).
Posted: Monday, 8 June 2009And… this reference Records- Astor Piazzola “Live in Central Park; Mile Davis “Quiet Music”, Alan Parsons “on air”……etc….etc….
I have to go with “Can’t You Hear me Knocking” from “Sticky Fingers”. It has everything in it, and at just over 7 minutes in length, it is long enough that you don’t repeat it.
Posted: Monday, 8 June 2009I run 683′s,Martin logan Grotto sub with rotel pre-amp/amp combo. I love Nora Jones (Come away with me,Nightingale) off of her 200 gram vinyl album. Along with Supertramp reference recording (Crime of the Century). White Stripes (Icky Thump)brings out the bass with meg’s drums. And for digital, the Eagles (Hell freezes over)DVD. The song (Seven Bridges road)at the end in DTS surround is skin tingling.
Posted: Monday, 8 June 2009Sopot-Hamburg Jazz Quintet….
on my 703′s…..pure heaven
Posted: Monday, 8 June 2009Cheers
I have a 805 speakers, with a pre Rotel rc 1070 + 2 ampli (monoblocks) Rotel rb 1070 (300 w aprox.)
the songs are the next
Diana Krall – temptation
Katie Melua – Spider´s web
Dire Straits – Private Investigation
The sins of thy beleved – all alone
Therion – Ljusalfheim
Metallica – unforgiven
The sound is amazing
Posted: Monday, 8 June 2009The best track I heard on my 703 and creek evolution amp and evo 2 cd player is “Sing, sing, sing” played by the GRP All Star Big Band album live.
Posted: Monday, 8 June 2009Other really good albums are the dmp music cds like “Flim & the BBs” especially “Tricycle”.
I love the track ‘Sunrise’ by Norah Jones on my 705s – which really shows off the 705′s ability with vocal and natural instruments. The other track I crank up, is “Something’s Missing” by John Mayer, which gives ppl a surprise when they hear the bass come in from such a small pair of standmounts.
Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009Tough call there are a lot of great recordings. But to show off the N803 driven by a MF A308 Integrated with a Theta Data Basic II Transport and MF TriVista DAC front end. It has to be the following.
Holly Rea :)
Bruce Cockburn :)
And last but not least Flim & the BB’s :)
I think I can honestly say it doesn’t matter which track from any one of them.
Oh we won’t go into vinyl for it rocks!!!
Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009Depending on the audience and my mood I use the following set to demonstrate the sound of my B&W 804s:
Cowboy Junkies. The Trinity Session.
Muddy Waters. Folk Singer [ULTRADISC Mobil Fidelity re-master]
Elgar. Cello Concerto. Sea Pictures. Du Pre. Baker. Barbirolli. [1965 EMI]
Jennifer Warnes. The Hunter (“Somewhere, Somebody” track and “Way Down Deep” – for base)
Roger Waters. Amused to Death.
Romeo Is Bleeding. Soundtrack.
Pink Floyd. The Dark Side Of The Moon. [ULTRADISC Mobil Fidelity re-master]
I didn’t feel the need to upgrade my equipment for almost 10 years. To drive my B&W 804s I use Theta Basic II transport with Theta Progeny DAC hooked to Anthem PRE1 with two NAD 216 THX power amps (horizontal bi-amping) with WireWorld speaker and interconnect cables.
Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009Set consists of Technics SL-P1200 CD player, connected to DAP5500 pre amp from Denon connected to POA 6600 power amps from Denon connected to model 801-F .
Tracks that always sound verry good (in random order):
It’s probably me – Sting
Afternoon + Hands And Clouds – Andreas Vollenweider
Luna tu – Alessandro Safina
Planet Dada (Flamboyant) – Yello
Three wishes – Roger Waters
Tu – Sarah Brightman
Spente Le Stelle – Emma Shapplin
The Race – Yello
The Rythm devine – Yello
Cold Rain – The Blues Company
Noches Calientes – Rosenberg Trio
Foolish Games (Edit) – Jewel
Deeper Well – Emmy Lou Harris
Tattoo – Janis Ian
Aerial Boundries – Michael Hedges
Respect the Wind – Eddie and Alex Van Halen
And, wel… I could go on for hours and hours, but these (old) 801′s just always sound great!
Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009B&W dm683 with rotel rsp 1098 and rmb 1075,marantz and audiaquest king cobra’s.
Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009leonard cohan live in london
dido live dvd
dire straits sacd brothers in arms
ima galguén abisimo arriba
everything from simple minds
I listen to jazz mostly. My babes are CM1 with Cambridge, Sony SACD, and Velodyne sub. Ecletic sound from:
~Rick Braun Sessions Vol1 (entire album)
~Miles Davis Kind of Blue (who doesnt?)
~Winston Mankuku Ndlozi (rare compilation from early 1960s by SA’s finest saxophonist)
~Joe Henderson, Best of (listen to El Barrio, Spanish inspired saxo lube)
~John Mayer Live (not jazz but the guitar riffs on bluesy Cd1 are great)
B&W bloggers i want SACD jazz Cd’s, any recommendations?
Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009Lyngdorf – B&W 804S
Posted: Wednesday, 10 June 2009* Bartok’s opera “Bluebeard’s Castle”: opening of the fifth gate (combines full orchestra blast and a ppp solo soprano within one minute).
* Orlando di Lasso: Propethiae Sibyllarum (de Labyrintho) (chamber music stage, realism of voices, overtones.
* Gia Kanchely: last 5′ of violaconcerto “Styx” (contains about everything to illustrate the various qualities of a speaker. High/low, dynamics, single piano,single viola, choir, full symphonic orchestra and most importantly: music that should carry you away from judging speakers to sheer joy)
use any good speakers you like, mine are Harbeth. Jaco Pastorius bass on Joni Michells Don Juans Reckless Daughter track Talk to me on vinyl. Steely Dan AJA and Donald Fagen Nightfly.
Posted: Thursday, 11 June 2009For me:
SACD The Pink Panther Theme, Ultimate Mancini.
SACD Carmina Burana Carl Orff, Robert Shaw. (very dificult to reproduce)
SACD Pentatone Classics RQR
SACD Richard Strauss-Also Sprach Zarathustra, Fritz Reiner: Chicago Symphony Orchestra (very dificult to reproduce)
Posted: Thursday, 11 June 2009You will forgive me, but the question does not make sense. It’s the other way round. Speakers have to deal with the music I like. I’m not choosing music that fits them best…
Posted: Wednesday, 17 June 2009I listen to a wide variety of genres but there is a few that is really special in the sonics department.
Janis Ian – Breaking Silence (180g Vinyl Issue)
Posted: Thursday, 18 June 2009Jennifer Warnes – The Hunter
Dire Straits – Love Over Gold
Sara K – Water Falls (180g Vinyl Issue)
Ryan Adams – Gold
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Pink Floyd – DSOTM (30th Anniversary Ed on Vinyl)
Neil Diamond – The Jazz Singer (Original Vinyl Issue)
Opps!. That’s a splendid question. Firstly I’ve just read the whole list and I would like not repeat on my elections.
1.- Harry Connick Jr. (“She”) CD 1994
You could use any track for stunning sound, but just try with the first track for this record: ‘ She ‘ ( same title as the cd)… Please, be careful with the volume. The bass could break your woofer or your nearly mirrors!!! After that you has brilliant vocals, and a fabolous rythm section with rip-roaring pianos.
2.- Dead Can Dance.- “Into the laberynht” (1993). Try with cd, but exist SACD too!.
Vocals, exotic, mistique, medieval. That’s superb.
3.- Rickie Lee Jones.- “Girl at her Volcano”. Cd (1983 Ep). Try with any track, or just directly with the cover ‘ Under the boardwalk’.
4.- Queen .- ‘The Game’ DVD Audio 2003 5+1 brilliant mix as must be done!.
Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009BW603 S3 – Pioneer A307R Integrated Amp.
- Knopfler – You and Your Friend, Live (Album On The Night)
- Aaron Neville – Close Your Eyes
- Enya – May it Be (Lord of the Rings)
- Evanescence – Good Enaugh – Lithium – My Inmortal
- Hayley Westenra – Wuthering Heights
Listening DVD Movies:
Pioneer 5.1 – 100w/Ch
Infinity Beta 250 Center Speaker
JBL Balboa 10 Rear Speaker
They are not expensive, cuestion of Money jejj.
The Beginning of Lord of The Rings, The Felloship of the Ring (Spanish Version – Spanish Voice, Great)
Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009AC/CD Live
Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009El disco en Cd el JACINTA – AUTUMN LEAVES ( 1999 ).
En LP Carmina Burana – Deutsche Grammophon.
Mis cajas son B&W 705 con cables Mit, amplificador TecnoLine MJ60 con KT 66 y de compact disc un Audiomeca Kreature con cables audioquest.Tocadiscos JVC con capsula ClearAudio Classic Wood.
Perdon por escribir en español.
Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009The Eagles – Hotel California – Acoustic in Melbourne.
Posted: Saturday, 20 June 2009603.3′s plus LCR600 and 610′s rear powered by a Rotel 1056. Turn it up and get blown away!
Dave Holland Big Band: Overtime
John Patitucci: Mistura – great Brazilian jazz
Patti Larkin – Strange Fruit – HDCD – rich acoustic – great space for an acoustic CD
Afro Celt Sound System – Release – huge drummingis
Trilok Gurtu – Bad Habits Die Hard-Incredible live CD -Trilok’s drumming is one of the great auditory experiences!
Strength in Numbers- Edgar Meyer and Bela Fleck -
Steve Hackett -Genesis Revisited -
Cassadra Wilson -Thunderbird – produced by T-Bone Burnett
Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale-Breathless
some electronic wizardly well mixed – great space.
that my 2 cents!
Posted: Sunday, 21 June 2009Bi-amped pair of 804s,
I use the Eagles – “Hell Freezes Over” CD for my friends. Tracks 6 – Hotel California, 7 – Wasted Time, and 12 – Take it easy.
Personally I like late night listening with lights off
The 804s bring the music alive
Posted: Tuesday, 23 June 2009Bonjour !
Posted: Tuesday, 23 June 2009I always tested the different speakers with :
“TAKE FIVE” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums.
Best regards.
the ultimate speaker test for me are
” emotion ”
and for the test my favourite choice are ( in a lot of others…)
Svarta Bjorn – Sangen om fyret ved Tornehamn
The Chieftains – The Foggy Dew with Sinead O’Connor
The Judds – Maybe Your Baby’s Got the Blues
Van Morrison – Have I Told You Lately
Ten Years After – I Can’t Keep From Crying, Sometimes
Michael Franks – Underneath The Apple TreeTom Waits – I Never Talk To Strangers
gerard lesne – vivaldi – cum dederit -
arvo part – miserere
hopkinson smith – luth pieces from j dowland
Led Zeppelin – Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Blood Sweat & Tears – Sometimes in Winter
put the records on the studer A730, turn on the accuphases twin and…
Posted: Tuesday, 23 June 2009just listen !
B&W 804s + Primaluna Dialogue Two + Yamaha CD-S 2000
Mark Knopfler – Je Suis Desole
Posted: Wednesday, 24 June 2009Dire Straits – Telegraph Road
Jesse Cook – Closer to Madness
Dave Brubeck – Take Five
Louis Armstrong – What a wonderful Life
Diana Krall – temptation
Antonio Forcione – Tears Of Joy
Strong/Whitfield – Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Mi equipo: opera consonance 15th anniversary-amplificador, xindak muse se-compact disc player,thorens td-240 – giradisco,B&W CM1-las magnificas cajas acusticas. Mi musica: Joe strumer -redemption song. JEFF BECK-Where were you.the Beatles-Happiness is a Warm gun.The Clash-Complete control.Stones-Fingerprint file.Neil Young-Rockin´in the free world.Bob Dylan-Jokerman
Posted: Friday, 26 June 2009