That´s an ecclectic list of albums. Good to see a mention of Prince but I´m surprised to see NWA´s Straight Outta Compton there. I love that album but soundwise it´s not really an album that I would use to test my speakers.

In the past 20 years What HiFi's reputation within the audiophile community has diminished quite dramatically. Most of those CDs are pretty poor sq-wise. But Prince, KB, Pixies and Talking Heads - atleast they got some taste in tunes!

One of the lengendary albums that sound engineers like to use when testing a recording space is Jellyfish's 1993 LP SPILT MILK. Really a super underrated masterpeice.

Sound quality wise SOTT is one of his worst (well the version we have pre-remaster!)

If you're talking about sound quality they should use the Symbol album (although from '92) which sounded really good production wise and gives speakers a fantastic work out even now! (Try The Morning Papers)

Agree with Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, amazing production.

Also where is Dire Straits, their 1985 album was pretty much always used as an example to test speakers with in shops.

[Edited 7/25/20 2:08am]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

Sound quality wise SOTT is one of his worst (well the version we have pre-remaster!)

If you're talking about sound quality they should use the Symbol album (although from '92) which sounded really good production wise and gives speakers a fantastic work out even now! (Try The Morning Papers)

Agree with Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, amazing production.

Also where is Dire Straits, their 1985 album was pretty much always used as an example to test speakers with in shops.

[Edited 7/25/20 2:08am]

Good pick! I agree SOTT is far from a hifi sounding album, especially the CD version is poor.

Parade is also sounding pretty good IMO, especially the 24/192 HD Tracks version that came out in 2013. It's got lots of elements going on in the mix with the orchestration and all, it gives your system a nice workout!

[Edited 7/25/20 5:21am]

Wolfie87 said:

Isn't Paul Simons "Graceland" a great produced album?

Yeah, that is a good sounding album IMO.

I like Steely Dan's 'Aja' and 'Gaucho' albums to test equipment, as well as Donald Fagen's 'The Nightfly'. These albums all feature immaculate production!