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[willow ve]

Of Montreal - The Past is a Grotesque Animal

Really anything by Radiohead
Tron soundtrack by Daft Punk

 

[dietdracula]

bruh MBDTF as your headphones testing album?

I know MBDTF has kind of a crappy master and everything is squashed to shit, but there's just so much going on. I know its not a super great choice, haha.

 

[OneEightZero]

Will second Steely Dan --- particularly the Aja album (Black Cow etc.) . Supposed to be one of the best engineered albums ever and really showcases the soundstage of good audiophile headphones.

I'll third this.

 

[lukeskymac]

I'll third this.

Fourth.

 

[Chris R]

Endtroducing

 

[UrokeJoe]

Steely Dan

I like this.

 

[LionPride]

Seeing as I listen to a lotta rap, I would use a K.Dot album

But das just me

Also Kanyeezy

And use Tool

 

[Moppeh]

Forever Changes by Love

 

[robotrock]

Seeing as I listen to a lotta rap, I would use a K.Dot album

TPAB would be fantastic for this.

Also, anything Flying Lotus basically. Los Angelas, Cosmogramma, and Until the Quiet Comes should all be A+ as headphones testing albums.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

Jamie XX - In Colour

 

[stump sock]

Pet Sounds remaster and Close to the Edge remaster.

 

[LionPride]

TPAB would be fantastic for this.

Also, anything Flying Lotus basically. Los Angelas, Cosmogramma, and Until the Quiet Comes should all be A+ as headphones testing albums.

Shit GKMC too just because of Backseat Freestyle

DAMN. because of DNA and XXX

Also the band Halestorm would be nice to use too

 

[PingPongvonLaserstein]

I.G.Y. by Donald Fagen has been always been my main go to song for headphones and home audio.

 

[dehydratedbabies]

I once heard someone online who supposedly tests speakers for a living say that Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" is standard.

 

[norm9]

Dark Side of the Moon
Any Chemical Brothers Album
Sitting on Chrome - Masta Ace
ATLiens - Outkast

 

[RespectThySole]

Loveless
Kid A
Yeezus

 

[Timeaisis]

A Question of Balance is a good sound check album.

 

[Skelter]

Such a clean sound.

 

[t1gerjaw]

In Absentia by Porcupines Tree

You, I like you.

 

[Zerokku]

Not only one of the greatest metal albums of all time, but also a great album to really put your headphones through its paces.

 

[cyborgnumberblue]

Pet Sounds in mono

 

[Sandoval]

Kashiwa Daisuke - April#02

It's got one song that clocks in around 23 minutes that's shifts from melloncholic, to jarring, to dischordant, to confusing, and back a few times before going into the most triumphant build I've ever heard in a song. It's a real trip that is perfect for high end headphones.

 

[Meatfist]

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Joni Mitchell - Blue/Court and Spark
Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill/Aja
Yes - Fragile
Boston - Boston
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Meshuggah - Nothing (Remastered)
Dream Theater - Images and Words
Radiohead - Kid A/In Rainbows

They don't master/engineer 'em like they used to!

 

[Tathanen]

Kashiwa Daisuke - Program Music I

Seriously. It's the first thing I play on any new soundsystem.

Kashiwa Daisuke - April#02

It's got one song that clocks in around 23 minutes that's shifts from melloncholic, to jarring, to dischordant, to confusing, and back a few times before going into the most triumphant build I've ever heard in a song. It's a real trip that is perfect for high end headphones.

Wow didn't see this, never expected another Kashiwa Daisuke recommendation. Nice!

 

[Like the hat?]

Queen - A Night at the Opera

 

[realwords]

Drake - Nothing was the Same

Young Thug - Barter 6

Timbaland - Shock Value

N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds

 

[Cow Mengde]

Galileo Galileo Galileo Galileo

 

[Parch]

Dark Side of the Moon

One of the reasons Dark Side of the Moon was among the top selling albums for decades was because it was used as a test album by studios. Great sounds. Beautifully engineered.

 

[Sparrowhawk]

I like using Kid A

Came to post Kid A, as well.

 

[dafinezt]

Rage Against the Machine's self titled

 

[Extra Sauce]

Yup. Third is the best pick for this kind of thing, but their other two albums are also fantastic picks.

I also think it's the best ever "comeback album" of any musical artist.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Thank me later.

(and you will thank me later)

 

[thekillermuffin]

one of the best headphone testing albums ever.

 

[wenis]

You'll want to seek out some MSFL, Red Disc or Diamond releases. The Japanese Triangle disc for Dark Side of the Moon is an extremely well done engineering and mastering work. Also search out the recent reissue of Glenn Gould "Bach: The Goldberg Variations". The piano sounds like you're just right above his shoulder as he's playing it.

Anything current and modern is too much of a crapshoot. You can't trust a lot of modern practices when it comes to engineering newer records. Most are being mastered/engineered for iTunes, Spotify or some other digital service. Most bands just want the music out without really thinking of the final product.

I would also filter white noise through your headphones for the next couple of weeks when you're not using them. Just to help with the wear in period. That's going to depend on your headphones tho. So some googling will help you get a time line for that.

 

[nin1000]

Some of the albums listed here have pretty average mastering, honestly. Great music, but not great production.

Still, I guess it depends what you are looking for when testing. Are you just listening for enjoyment, or to try and hear what your headphones are capable of?

Massive Attack Mezzanine is great for bass (Haxan Cloak Excavation as well), A Moon Shaped Pool is pretty layered, and I reach for some later Autechre for textural stuff.

+1 for those 3 suggestions.
Autechre is killer if you want to really test your headphones. I would add anything by aphex twin especially
drukqs

 

[le.phat]

Roly Porter - Third Law




This album will force any sound system on its knees. Range, depth, crispness, range, balance. Let's find out if your setup is worth shit.

 

[heavy liquid]

Dead Can Dance - Into The Labyrinth

Amazing percussion, and ranges from European classical to ancient Celtic and Middle Eastern folk styles and influences.

I used to work at a couple music stores back when they existed, and the local hifi shops would always use this album to demo their receivers and speakers for customers.

 

[SamVimes]

I like using Kid A

Same.

 

[pantsattack]

Any modern hardcore albums for this purpose?

 

[wenis]

The MSFL of Weezers Blue Album is magnificent. An extremely well balanced record.

 

[Temeculan3000]

Actual answers:

Steely Dan - Aja
Peter Gabriel - So
Boz Scaggs - Dig
Alice in Chains - Unplugged
Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth
Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott

Use FLAC rips or the actual CDs.

 

[Monochromaticx]

Wish you were here
Led Zeppelin iv

 

[acheron_xl]

Stereolab - Dots and Loops

Seconding this.

 

[HelloMeow]

The Tuss ‎– Rushup Edge

This album is varied and has some great sound design. It has been the first thing I listen to whenever I get new headphones.

 

[capitalCORN]

Boards of Canada - Geogaddi.

 

[nin1000]

The Tuss ‎– Rushup Edge

This album is varied and has some great sound design. It has been the first thing I listen to whenever I get new headphones.

Great suggestion !
That album is lush.
Richard D. James is a king in that regard

 

[TheMink]

Testing headphones is more about familiarity with the music then how good the mix is. But that being said a list of music that I consider exceptional mixes:

Rush - Clockwork Angles
Steely Dan - Aja
Incubus - Light Grenades
Muse - Drones
Young the Giant - Home of the Strange
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Will Knox - River Ink

 

[TheGameshark]

Can't really beat Dark Side. I put on Dopesmoker to see how they can handle pure heaviness.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Kid A

 

[OneEightZero]

Testing headphones is more about familiarity with the music then how good the mix is. But that being said a list of music that I consider exceptional mixes:

Rush - Clockwork Angles
Steely Dan - Aja
Incubus - Light Grenades
Muse - Drones
Young the Giant - Home of the Strange
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Will Knox - River Ink

This is an excellent list.

Go with this, OP.