The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / The Songs The Sound Engineers Use to Tune Your Stereo

**Posted by RadioActive** January 10, 2025 5:37 pm

There are certain songs the pros use to make sure the sound on your system is as good as it gets. And some of the titles may surprise you.

The Songs the Sound Engineers Use to Tune Your Stereo

**Posted by Forward Power** January 10, 2025 6:03 pm

Some good picks in the article. Some of my go-to's for testing audio gear include Bruce Springsteen's "Streets Of Philadelphia", Marc Cohn's "Walking In Memphis", and "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz.

**Posted by Chrisphen** January 10, 2025 7:29 pm

No 'Metal Machine Music'? For shame.

**Posted by Jody Thornton** January 10, 2025 7:30 pm

Any turntable and speaker testing I do is with the assistance of my favourite go to's:

Hey Nineteen by Steely Dan
What a Wonderful World (FYT) by Donald Fagen
Give Me The Night by George Benson
Spirits In the Material World by the Police
Dancing In the Sheets by Shalamar
Quorum and Wintertime by Hagood Hardy
Nurse Rosetta and On the Inside by Alice Cooper

**Posted by mace** January 11, 2025 6:38 am

I wonder what the other 49 tunes on their testing playlist are.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** January 11, 2025 8:13 am

Chrisphen wrote:
No 'Metal Machine Music'? For shame.

I would still like to hear that album, even if it is questionable! Don’t know if I would get through all four sides though. Thanks for reminding us Chrisphen, I had almost forgotten about that one.

**Posted by ig** January 11, 2025 11:07 am

or...

Aye - New World Sound
Steely Dan - Hey 19 / Babylon Sisters / FM
My My My - Troye Sivan
Only - Imagine Dragons
Electricity - Silk City
Chocolate - The 1975
Uprising - Musc
Lazarus - Bowie
Pineapple Skies - Miguel
Adrenaline - Zedd, Grey
Scrap Attack - Headhunterz
Wayfarer - Audien
Stole the Show - Kygo
Test The Sound - Mr. Scruff

**Posted by Tq345** January 11, 2025 11:45 am

Back in the day stereo shops often used pretty much any Steely Dan album, particularly Aja and Gaucho to demonstrate the quality of components.

They would also often use recordings by Mannheim Steamroller, especially their Fresh Aire III album.

**Posted by Chrisphen** January 11, 2025 4:58 pm

Alan Parsons Project would be acceptable, particularly the 'Eye in the Sky' album. My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless' also.

**Posted by Jody Thornton** January 11, 2025 6:02 pm

Chrisphen wrote:
Alan Parsons Project would be acceptable, particularly the 'Eye in the Sky' album. My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless' also.

... or "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" and "Eve" (in some cases)

**Posted by Chrisphen** January 11, 2025 7:23 pm

Jody Thornton wrote:
Chrisphen wrote:
Alan Parsons Project would be acceptable, particularly the 'Eye in the Sky' album. My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless' also.
... or "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" and "Eve" (in some cases)

Yeah either the original or '87 mix of Mystery are sonically good (I lean toward the remix). Not crazy about 'Eve'...it's a bit misogynistic. More of a 'Pyramid' man, myself.

**Posted by Jody Thornton** January 11, 2025 7:30 pm

I just meant "Eve" for sonics, plain and simple. For "Mystery", I'm for the original :D