Customer Reviews

Ultimate Demonstration Disc: Chesky Records' Guide to Critical Listening

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To date, this is probably the best singe CD I've heard for auditioning an audio system. Before each musical track is played, a narrator introduces & explains what the track excels at and exactly what you should be listening for on a quality audio system capable of faithfully reproducing tracks just as they were recorded. In some intros they describe the stage, or even give you the distance an instrument is from a microphone so you know the layout of the session and can better determine for yourself if it sounds accurate when reproduced. From stunningly crystal-clear vocal solos, to a flute's warble, to a harmonizing accopello, right down to a tune where you're listing specifically to the sound of finger-snaps (compared to your own) this is a treasure of a CD for anyone shopping for a home audio system in various hi-fi stores.

Very quickly and simply: It will separate the pristine from (just) the acceptable systems you may encounter in your search. No Hip-Hop, Rock or Opera here. Just a well recorded variety of instruments and voices that are difficult to accurately reproduce on any substandard equipment. OverSampled at 128x. it will illustrate the true Depth, Atmosphere, Midrange Purity, Naturalness, Transparency, Presence, Visceral Impact, Focus, and Transients (or lack thereof) on any audio system. Think of it as an audio dictionary that will help train you to detect the presence, and absence, of all the aforementioned sonic characteristics a quality recording can contain.

PLEASE NOTE: The track listing with the first 5 (of 12 entries) showing "Billy The Kid (EXC)" is COMPLETELY INCORRECT.

CORRECT TRACK LISTING FOR THIS CD IS AS FOLLOWS: 1 Welcome to the Ultimate Demonstration Disc; 2 High Resolution-Introduction; 3 Spanish Harlem/ Rebecca Pidgeon; 4 Depth-Introduction; 5 If I Could Sing Your Blues/ Sara K.; 6 Atmosphere -Introduction; 7 Maiden Voyage/ Leny Andrade; 8 Midrange Purity-Introduction; 9 Grandma's Hands/ Livingston Taylor; 10 Naturalness-Introduction; 11 Correnteza/ Ana Caram; 12 Transparency -Introduction; 13 Played Twice/ Fred Hersch Trio; 14 Presence-Introduction; 15 Ask Me Now/ McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson; 16 Visceral Impact -Introduction; 17 Sweet Georgia Brown/ Monty Alexander; 18 Rhythm & Pace- Introduction; 19 I Love Paris/ Johnny Frigo; 20 Focus-Introduction; 21 Flute Concerto in D/ Connecticut Early Music Festival; 22 Holographic Imaging- Introduction; 23 Festival Te Deum/ Westminster Abbey Choir; 24 Transients- Introduction; 25 The Royal March/ Solsti New York, Ransom Wilson; 26 Bass Resonance- Introduction; 27 Best of Chesky Jazz and More Audiophile Tests, Vol. 2; 28 Dynamic Test-Introduction; 29 Best of Chesky Jazz and More Audiophile Tests, Vol. 2; & 30 Final Announcement

This is the best possible tool to evaluate high-end sound system.

It really can pull the last bits of performance out of a system, and makes it almost trivial to identify possible fields for improvement for anyone who has "sound ears".

The disc also can be used very efficiently to illustrate which term means really what for somebody who is not too familiar with the sometimes awkward and fuzzy Audiophile terminology.

It's 5+ stars product.

I was using this to CD to help me purchase speakers and audio reciever. I am not an audiophile. I just wanted to have a nice sound system. So being new to this "stuff", you need something to help you learn what to listen for and something that you can play on different systems. When you go into the stores, they all have their own CDs to play for customers, so comparison is somewhat difficult, especially for a beginner. Anyway, this product was very helpful. I also found my self wanting to listen to the music it self, not for the purpose of comparison of the equipment.

Over the years I have purchased more than one copy of this recording to test the quality audio play-back equipment. It is an old friend who assists the audio of all equipment. However, if something is amiss, this recording will bring out the obvious. The sound stage is wide and deep, the soloist is front and present. One can close his eyes and literally see the concert in intimate detail.

I purchased a new Sony Receiver and a surround sound speaker system and connected it to my Sony flat screen tv in December 2008. I was looking for a demonstration CD or DVD to play through my new Home Theater Surround Sound System to evaluate the performance of the receiver, speakers and cables. I probably would not have purchased this particular CD if I could have listened to it before purchasing. A very small part of the CD was ok, but I was disappointed with the most of it. I feel it did not demonstrate my surround sound speakers effectiveness well enough. I would like to be able to review the material on the CD before buying again.