Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Recommendation for CDs That Image and Demo CDs

American IV is good too.

It's amazing how a good set of speakers will bring out the recording quality of a CD. Hard to believe that there are so many poorly recorded CDs out there. Before I purchased my new system all CD sound quality sounded the same. Not now. One CD that I used to audition my speakers was Sarah McLachlan's Ratities, B-Sides and Other Stuff. Great CD, it really helped identify the strong points and not so strong points of the speakers. On a decent system the sound stage is amazing (check out tracks 10,11, 12,13)

While auditioning speakers I could easily determine if I liked the way they sounded with the CD. I auditioned the PSB Image 6s, Axioms M60s, and 80’s, Energy C7s, Totem Staff’s and Meadowlark Kestrels.

It made choosing the speakers a relatively easy task. I would definitely recommend it as an audition CD.

I read an article recently that suggested bringing CDs that you don't know very well with you when you audition a speaker. This way you're not bringing with you the preconceived notion about how your music "should" sound.

The basic idea the author was trying to put forth was that the most accurate (and thus "best") speakers are the ones which bring out the most differences between CDs.

It makes more sense when you look at it the opposite way: the "worst" speakers are the ones which tend to make all your CDs sound the same.

The article was a fascinating read. If anyone is interested, I'll try to find it.

Rosanna Cash - Rules of Travel, is a very good recorded cd, with a good sound stage. For a bonus a duet with her dad Johnny.

Metier

I had a friend that was into synthesizer music. I remeber hearing some awsome stuff, but can't quite remember the name of the group, I think it was "Fresh Air" or something like that. This one particular track had the sound of a match striking, then you could hear the crackling and popping of a fire, then crickets chirping in the background....It was totaly relaxing. Another track had the sound of wind blowing, and as it picked up it had wind chimes and then a storm came through with thunder and rain...realy awsome stuff. I woul love to get my hands on a copy. if any of you have ever heard of them give me a shout.

timmy

The album Modock is referring to may be “Fresh Aire” by Mannheim Steamroller. That’s Chip Davis and friends on drums and synths. Now they would probably call it Fresh Aire I as opposed to II, III, etc. I first heard it on Quad electrostats [dating self] and had to buy the record. I don’t remember the match/fire cut but the crickets/windchimes/storm were really fantastic on it. I still have the record in a box somewhere, along with II and V, and have heard III and VI. The vocals and instruments coming in at the beginning of Fresh Aire V are quite nice. It looks like they have been issued on a collectors set of volumes 1-8, but I have the vinyl.

I actually picked this cd up because someone on this site recommended it, don’t remember who. It is Mark Knopfler Sailing to Philadelphia.

I think that was me. Have you had a chance to listen to it? His next CD is even better I think. It's called Ragpicker's Dream.

Yes I have. I liked the one you recommended so much that I bought that one too. I will admit that I like the first one the best though.

What about motion picture sound tracks? I thought Titanic's sound track was awsome.

Oh! Since I brought up movies! I liked the begining of Saving Private Ryan with all the bulets flying around. My all time favorite was the bank shootout in the movie Heat. I think it is one of the best sounding shoot outs ever put on film. To bad I don't have axioms to appreciate it even more. LOL :-(


webbb,
Thanks for the Mannheim Steamroller info! Can't wait to get to the music store! Fresh Aire III is the album I remember hearing! Once again this forum rules!!!

timmy