The ones in NC on FB are 1b's

Internet says ~ 90 db sensitivity. You don't need huge power. IF you have them hooked up to an arc welder, doesn't mean you are using the rated wattage. Maybe the load is demanding and you require high current/low impedance stability but most quality amps are good there (note that bridging channels diminishes this headroom by a factor of 2).

You will get more bang for buck with a nice integrated, most have digital inputs (build in dac these days). If you arnt price sensitive: Mcintosh, Luxman, Accuphase, Bryston, etc

If you are price sensitive you have literally hundreds of options from Nad, Yamaha, Dennon, Marantz, Rotel, etc

If you really want huge clean power, Class D is the way to go these days. No excuses needed for modern class D especially the premium modules from Hypex and the like.

https://www.buckeyeamp.com/shop/amplifiers/hypex/nc2k/1_channel

Lemme start a thread ... I know what a 450 watt stereo and 2 1K watt amps bridged mono does along with the SDA interconnect .... btdt... love them both ways.

On the larger two pairs... at various times... 4 Carvers.

My oldest SDA 1A pair sound awesome with 200 watts stereo... a 50 lb Sony ES for decades.

Not trying to re-invent the wheel... btdt.. just fixin some blow outs ;)

So, Audiophiles; I don't think this question is much of a tangent on the 12th page of the thread - what is your go to reference song to dial in your equipment?

Lately, I've been using Brothers in Arms, but this morning I put in Time Out of Mind and after a couple of serious listens I've decided that that might be my choice for the near future.

(Im not an audiophile; tinnitus has put paid to that idea, but I like music)

Great question!!! I am not an audiophile (but I do love music) and I like to use "The Gold Bug" by the Alan Parsons Project.

Diana Krall, Peel Me a Grape.

Somewhere there is a thread....

I use Natalie Merchant's Tigerlily ... I only have one cd :D

^

Good album. Carnival and River are top-notch.

"They" say to use a female vocalist ... I can breeze through the tracks ... a few seconds here and there... I nose what I my ears can see clearly from memory :D

if you are on Qobuz I have a playlist. Here are some:

Female vocals:
Allison Kraus It doesn't matter
Chantal Chamberland Chasing Cars
Hanna Boel After Midnight
Dominique Fils Aime Birds

Rock:
Alan Parsons Eye in the Sky
BTO Rock is my life and this is my song
Puscifer The Humbling River
Porcupine Tree Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth before it is recycled
Nils Lofgren Keith Dont Go
Genesis Squonk
Roger Waters %:06(Every Strangers Eyes)

Guitar:

Jesse Cook Cancion Triste
Cafe del Mundo Una Mattina

^^^^ LOL ... I like to use something I'm familiar with :D

Female vocalists .... "Phat Ladeze at the Opera .... LIVE"!

I don't get out much ;)

Any audiophiles out there?
 

That and Temptation are my current faves from her.

I mentioned in another thread Grace Mahya Live at Dug. Oh so good.

Found this in a recent bulk used buy-
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...582720ddeb.jpg

Not the best ever musically but her voice is recorded really well and without the usual reverb I hear on too many female vocal tracks.

Alice In Chains Live - Rooster

Nirvana MTV unplugged - Lake of Fire

Billie Eilish - Lunch - lots of her stuff has a whispery quiet voice but it is not for everyone. Ass tons of bass.

Melody Gardot Live in Europe - over the rainbow

Heart - Magic Man and Crazy on You are both seriously intense played loud. A good setup will rock it. Lots to go wrong for a less than good setup.

Tool - chocolate chip trip (for drums and soundstage)

Rage Against the Machines covers album for punchy hard stuff

Beasties Paul’s Boutique for sheer joy.

My Go-To is an Original Master Recording of Supertramp's "Crime of The Century" bought back in the 80's. Will test everything about your system.

Separation, imaging, dynamic range, clarity, you name it......you'll know what you've got.
Rudy, by itself, will tell you a lot, but the whole album is magnificent IMO.

Any audiophiles out there?
 

Sorry a couple more came to mind-

Bob Marley live at the Roxy - I Shot the Sheriff.

Black Crowes - she talks to angels for imaging

Hotel California live for nice soundstage

Fleetwood Mac Rumours live - landslide will give you a shiver with the vocals

Anakelly Under the Milky Way and/or Speed of Sound

Ohhh, that's a good one. Great Dave Frishberg song too.

I like "Corner Pocket", from Sheffield Lab's King James Version . Lots of what Sheffield did in their direct to disc days will push any system.

Also the entire "Trinity Sessions".

Greg are you referring to Cowboy Junkies? I see that come up a lot in discussions of great recordings but other than hearing echo from a lot of hard surfaces (and the AC system blowing) i don't get it.

The Cowboy Junkies are very discerning with scouting the recording locations ( Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto for its natural reverb) and type of microphone (ambisonic microphone)

Yes. It has an amazing sense of space when heard on a system that's sympathetic to its nuances...not all are, than's not a knock on the system necessarily, but I tend to like reproduction that is. Agree with the other comment, pretty much anything they've recorded is well made.

You should treat yourself to the studio version of the song "Renmin Park" if you like cowboy junkies.

It's one of their best in my opinion. That 3 string violin at the bridge is so beautiful it'll remind you of the first time you fell in love.