Songs you would like to hear on a demo!

Taylor Assen · 09-15-2003, 12:36 AM

As you all know I have a new job at A & B sound!!!! When you all go in to demo a disc, what exact artist and song do you use, and why? Which songs do you hate? Do you like loud music (volume wise), or softer notes..... Do you like to control the volume or have the salesman control it for you?

I ask this because I really want the most out of my audtioners. I want them to feel comfortable and really get a good idea of what our speakers can do! Since all of you have auditioned SEVERAL speakers in your time, what material is a must have for a demo disc! Thanks for all of your advice!
Taylor

Wayne Ernst · 09-15-2003, 01:02 AM

I can't comment on music that has helped me decide on a receiver or speakers. However, I can say that Van Morrison's Greatest Hits CD told me that I needed to buy a pair of Grado SR-60 headphones. That CD sealed the deal ... made the headphones come alive for me.

If I were in the market for a new receiver, speakers or sub, I'd pack the following CDs:

- The Rippingtons
- Russ Freeman (part of the Rippingtons)
- Paul Hardcastle (sythesized jazzy music)
- Country music (Alan Jackson, others)
- Rock (John Cougar, etc.)
- Misc. (Steely Dan, others)

I think if you are going to spend $1,000 or more, you need to be in the driver's seat for closing the deal. You should have the capability to check the receiver settings - crossover points, treble levels, bass levels, etc. so that you can make a proper decision for your new gear.

Luis Cruz · 09-15-2003, 01:18 AM

Quote:

I think if you are going to spend $1,000 or more, you need to be in the driver's seat for closing the deal. You should have the capability to check the receiver settings - crossover points, treble levels, bass levels, etc. so that you can make a proper decision for your new gear.

I agree with that. I think people generally want to play around with the equipment a bit if they are going to put down alot of hard earned cash on it.

Now for music...that's a tough one as everyone's taste in music is subjective, but I think if you can find some music that is mixed well you'll be able to show off what "speaker X" can do or what "speaker Y" can do.

To add to Wayne's list I would add The Corrs and Sixpence None The Richer. Both use a good variety of instruments which can show off a good pair of speakers I would think. My uncle is a salesman in Home Audio as well and I could tell you that he demo's alot of music with Latin flavor but that could just be a Miami thing as there are a lot of Hispanic's here. I think he also demo's country music as well.

John Garcia · 09-15-2003, 01:42 AM

Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue (SACD if possible) Very well recorded, an excellent example of just how good SACD can be (2ch). Nardis, track 11, ranges from soft and slow to hard and fast; vocals, piano, percussion. Lots of detail and positional presense, good all around demo track.

A few that I like to use to audition:

Dave Mathews Band - Crash
Fiona Apple - Tidal
Tori Amos - Under the Pink
Gypsy Kings - (you pick)
Loreena McKennit - Book of Secrets
Seal - Seal (1991).

Chip Brogden · 09-15-2003, 07:10 AM

Im not sure about the other types of music but from the rock side, trying out my new axioms, Pearl Jam sounded pretty damn good/impressive.

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Jason.Soko · 09-15-2003, 11:41 AM

While I am not into a lot of the CD's I use to demo, one that my father and I use a lot is the Kenny G Live album. Track 3 , Silouhette is one of the best recordings I have ever heard. There is absolutely ZERO noise floor behind this recording. Dave Mathews Crash is also a very good album that we use.

Tab Nichols · 09-15-2003, 04:03 PM

I would try:

Sarah McLaughlin - Angel - good for warmth, and clarity
Brooklyn Bounce - Brooklyn Bounce - good for mibass response, and brightness of treble
Eminem - Without Me - for bass response

This is just for music though.. if it were movies, you could find a lot of lists here using the search function.

Scott Oliver · 09-15-2003, 05:55 PM

Give as much control to the buyer as you can to help create a relaxed atmosphere.

-CD's I use are as follow:

Patricia Barber, Cafe Blue, "Nardis", "Ode to Billy Joe"
Dave Matthews Band, Live at Luther College, "Cry Freedom"
Nils Petter Molvaer, Khmer, "Access/ Song of Sand I"
John Rutter, Reqieum, on Reference Recordings
Alisson Krauss w/ Union Station, New Favorite
The Super Extended Resolution Sound of TBM, Fim JVC XRCD

-A local super high end dealer used a selection of four tracks to start off an extended listening session, he used:

Some lady singing acapella, minimally miked
Fairfield Four, I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray, "These Bones"
Patricia Barber - "Ode to Billy Joe"
Minimally miked solo piano recording on MA Recordings

Mitch Stevens · 09-15-2003, 09:38 PM

What about making an MP3 CD-R that contains 10 hours of music to choose from? That way you'll have hundreds of tracks to choose from to play for your customers. Of course, you would have to record the MP3s yourself from your original CDs at 320 kbps to ensure that they hear the highest quality possible, but even at that bitrate, you should easily still be able to fit over 100 tracks on it.