# Do you have a specific song that you test speakers with? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186 "2013-01-14T17:22:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cdsilv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cdsilv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdsilv)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/21 "2013-01-14T22:37:25Z")
‘Your latest trick’ - Dire Straits ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/22 "2013-01-14T22:39:20Z")
My husband the ex-DJ used to use the Propellerhead’s Bond Theme regularly, because it moves from channel to channel. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/23 "2013-01-14T23:07:21Z")
If I had one it would be the entire _Wish You Were Here_ album by Pink Floyd. I used to go to the laser light show of that album occasionally – the light show wasn’t that great but I just wanted to hear it on a great stereo. It uses up quite a lot of range. When you hear it loudly on a great set of speakers it’s like a whole different album cause subtleties pop out at you that you can easily overlook at low volume. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/24 "2013-01-14T23:12:48Z")
Hands of the Healer by Special EFX. First got it as CD from JVC in the mid to late 80s for demonstrating stereo equipment. Combination of crystal high note pinging and then fading coupled with rumbling bass is a very effective speaker/system test. ---
**Author:** ![slitterst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/25 "2013-01-15T16:25:50Z")
Pink Floyd’s [One of These Days](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XJuWcls7CA). The studio version, not this one. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/26 "2013-01-15T21:40:41Z")
I don’t own a stereo myself, but a friend of mine always uses Steve Winwood’s “Bring Me A Higher Love.” He did not notice this until I pointed out that he used the same song to demo his first high-end system for me, back in the 80s. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/27 "2013-01-15T23:04:02Z")
St Matthews Passion, the violin solo really tests the musicality of speakers and stage depth. Also Money for Nothing the intro will blow some speakers, it was the first CD i purchased back in the '80s and at the time I was selling high end HIFI. That along with “An Invitation to Whyndham Hill” LP were my faves for demos. Such a shame I couldn’t make money in that field… ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/28 "2013-01-15T23:13:44Z")
Back when I used to do such things I would use [Fault Lines](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1bXDob7Gi0) from Mustt Mustt by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook and [Calling Elvis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkTFAeTu0AI) from On Every Street by Dire Straits. Fault Lines had lot of subtle textures, stereo separated bits and deep tones and Calling Elvis was a well-recorded rocker and I liked the drum sound. I’d use other songs from those albums too. Alternates would be something off of the Soul Cages by Sting or Shepard Moons by Enya. Yes it’s been that long since I’ve been speaker-shopping. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/29 "2013-01-15T23:45:15Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. I’m by no means an expert on music, but I find that piece has enough range that I’ll notice any parts the speakers (usually headphones in my case, I go through them quickly) aren’t as strong. > [@For You](#): > > The full album version of Locomotive Breath. My son just bought new headphones, and I wound up testing them with Bach’s T&F in Dm, followed by Locomotive Breath. Funny how great minds think alike. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/30 "2013-01-16T00:08:33Z")
I was at someone else’s house once when this weird song came on the radio. It was just this quiet music and an English guy counting backwards. It took me a moment to realize it was David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”, played through a stereo with one busted speaker. Since then I’ve occasionally used the same song to check to make sure both my computer speakers are working. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/31 "2013-01-16T03:43:16Z")
I used the LP version of “Sympathy for the Devil” to blow up speakers a couple times, if that’s what you mean, but the doo-doo-doos on the CD version do not create the same driver-busting, magnet-cracking harmonics. Sound reproduction breaking the woofer’s magnet into several large chunks impressed me. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/32 "2013-01-17T16:13:18Z")
If I’m evaluating speakers on overall quality, I’ll reach for Little Feat’s _Silver Screen_ from Representing the Mambo. They recorded this album at Skywalker, so the technical quality is immaculate, and there is an almost ethereal hi-hat riff running through the whole song. Also, this song is good for finding if your speakers are getting “boxy” or “woolly” with male vocals. (AKA sounding like the singer is inside a cardboard box.) Pat Metheney’s _The First Circle_ is another favorite acoustic track, especially if you remember what a real piano sounds like. Both of these albums were recorded by people who care before the Loudness Wars ruined dynamic range. If I just want an “Is the subwoofer working?” track, LMFAO’s _Party Rock Anthem_ or Black Eye Peas’ _I Gotta Feeling_ serve well. Oddly enough, the bass really kicks in at 00:59 on both of these. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/33 "2013-01-17T21:35:36Z")
How often do you have to test your speakers that you have a specific song to do it with? I have purchased two sets in 40 years, the last around 15 years ago and only replaced originals because they had been stolen (note woofers had been replaced once previously) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/34 "2013-01-17T22:36:16Z")
I wasn’t just testing my own speakers. Mostly, I was either trying to sell some or buy new ones. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/35 "2013-01-18T00:02:48Z")
It’s been ages since I’ve bought speakers, but whenever we move or re-arrange the room, it’s nice to have a reference to gauge speaker placement. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/36 "2013-01-19T01:23:22Z")
Lots of good stuff on [Ein Straussfest](http://www.amazon.com/Ein-Straussfest-Johann-Junior-Strauss/dp/B000003CTC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1358558493&sr=1-1&keywords=ein+straussfest). ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/37 "2013-01-22T19:06:43Z")
Weather Report’s “Birdland” America’s “Woman Tonight” - the last part is a woofer ripper. Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” to check the overall condition…plus I love the ending…It’s in the hole! ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/38 "2013-01-23T16:29:54Z")
Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “Brain Salad Surgery”. Not the album, the song with the same name that appears on Works Vol 2. It will clip the hell out of shitty woofers, but will rearrange your inner organs if you have great woofers. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/39 "2013-01-23T17:07:16Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > How often do you have to test your speakers that you have a specific song to do it with? I have purchased two sets in 40 years, the last around 15 years ago and only replaced originals because they had been stolen (note woofers had been replaced once previously) I often end up having to buy new earphones because they get broken - sometimes one will fall out of my ear and break, sometimes it starts to require fiddling around with/the wire held in an exact position to work properly, etc. I’ve never yet found a reasonably priced set that I’m happy sounds perfect, so I try a few new ones every time I have to replace. > [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > My son just bought new headphones, and I wound up testing them with Bach’s T&F in Dm, followed by Locomotive Breath. Funny how great minds think alike. Heh, I was just happy “range” turned out to be the right word for what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186/40 "2013-01-23T18:07:32Z")
back in college we used to test a lot of things, including sound equipment, with entire Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon” album [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-specific-song-that-you-test-speakers-with/647186.md?page=3)