Testing Tracks

     for Speakers

Speakers are meant for enjoying music, and it's worth testing them with music. Of course, you can beep, sweep, and listen to square wave signals, but all that effort should translate into the speaker's ability to deliver music well. When searching for test tracks, you'll definitely come across audio enthusiasts' forums. There are many excellent suggestions there. Just don't be misled by comments like, "... did you hear that the cello sheet fell off at 27 seconds?" If you heard it, it probably diminishes the overall music experience. Of course, that's an exception. In addition to audio enthusiasts, there are online lists that professionals use for evaluating their work. The best recommendations can be found at:

The amplifier manufacturer's list is the longest, with direct references and numerous tracks from other lists: https://leaprofessional.com/blog/system-testing-playlist/

The speaker manufacturer's list features tracks with truly exceptional production quality. It seems that for beards and velvet suits, the tracks have a calm tempo and high-quality performance: https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/usa/en/blog/test-your-speakers-cambridge-audio-engineer

The list provided by the magazine is the quirkiest. The spatial image of some tracks changes halfway through; in others, the entire orchestra fits into a piano; the third track sounds distinctly ancient, etc. However, there are some exciting discoveries here too: https://www.whathifi.com/features/10-best-songs-to-test-your-speakers

There are more of these lists. Search for "speaker test tracks." It must be admitted that the selection is very diverse, and the tracks offered in these lists have excellent production quality. Some are even so good that they sound pretty decent even on lower-quality speakers. Interestingly, these lists also include some tracks that sound great on high-quality speakers but unimpressive on bad ones. So, I'm suggesting my short selection of tracks, some of which are from the aforementioned lists, and some are my personal picks.

The first one for timing check: Los by Rammstein from the album Reise-Reise. An easily accessible track. If the timing of the speaker's internal drivers is off, this track sounds quite unimpressive. When everything is in place, all instruments have excellent sound, the stage feels spacious, and the track sounds magical.

Next, let's consider mid-frequency quality. It's difficult for me to notice speaker issues when the music is too dense, and any problems might be masked by other sounds. It's much easier when individual instruments of an orchestra can present themselves separately. For this purpose, a good track is Maurice Ravel's - Bolero. Also, easy to find. If there's an issue with rendering the sound of an instrument or its harmonics, it becomes noticeable.

Evaluating bass is more complicated, as there are few tracks where bass plays a substantial role. Most of the time, it's in the background. From a musical standpoint, you could listen to Béla Fleck and the Flecktones' track Flight of the Cosmic Hippo. Here, the bass is the main focus of the track, complemented by other frequencies. The track covers very low notes and helps determine if the bass has character. Going even deeper into the lower and more powerful end, there's film music, of course. Hans Zimmer's or Danny Elfman's tracks are almost all suitable. If you had to choose one, you could listen to Hans Zimmer's The Battle from the movie Gladiator. There you can also appreciate Lisa Gerrard's vocal prowess at times. Consider Massive Attack - Angel; James Blake - Limit to Your Love and Lorde - Royals also.

High frequencies can be best evaluated with abundant violin, female vocals with harmonies, drum solos with cymbals, or other percussion and string instruments. An honest choice is classical music by Arvo Pärt (it has a lot of both, choir and violin), which also tests the speaker's dynamics and, in the end, the listener's patience when half an hour has passed and the track is just starting to gain momentum. For those who can't endure Pärt, a slightly simpler option is... Metallica. Their album 72-Seasons has a sound profile that will make you want to turn down the high frequencies after just one track. And for those who don't like the above suggestions, a very pleasant choice is the energetic Bright Lights Bigger City by CeeLo Green from the album The Lady Killer.

You can conclude the testing with an a cappella track: Hallelujah by Pentatonix from the album A Pentatonix Christmas, and why not also include the powerful vocals of Adele's track Hello. Of course, a gem of high-quality recording is Eagles Hotel California (MTV Live recording).

Testing tracks for speakers must be distinguished from favorite tracks. Favorite tracks might not have the necessary frequencies, production quality, instruments, or dynamics. Testing with a truly unpleasant track is challenging, but neutral tracks are the best because they allow you to focus on the sound and the speakers. Listen to these tracks a few times with headphones before evaluating the speakers. This way, you'll at least have a general idea of whether the sound itself is distorted or if the speaker is crackling.

And if you couldn't assess the speakers using the tracks from the referenced lists, you can definitely have a great music production listening experience here, and perhaps discover some new favorite tracks or artists.

P.S. For a constant stream of high-quality music, you can tune in to some HiFi online radios. My favorite is Radio Paradise (https://radioparadise.com/home). While music taste can be a subject of debate, the production quality is indisputable. It's incredibly convenient when someone else has taken care of filtering out low-quality tracks. With options to skip and choose a list, there's always something enjoyable to listen to.