Hi Arvin ~ Great question and I'd be interested in hearing more answers to it from our astute members.
I usually try a freshly rebuilt reproducer on a variety of records that includes: Violin, Soprano voice, bells, at least one unusually strident limited passage (2 or 3 grooves). This takes care of the high end. Baritone voice and cello for the low. Also, vocal quartet and small instrumental ensembles (to see if differential details are noticed). Sharp voices like some moment's of Billy Murray's (acoustic) recordings are also good to check how well the reproducing apparatus hangs onto the shrill passages without distorting. The above mainly accounts for cylinders and acoustic discs, for acoustic-era machines. For early electric era I always include vibraphone. Really anything that is rich in natural harmonics works well. Benny Goodman Quartet's Moon Glow with Hampton's vibraphone (Victor 25398) is good for this, but in general I try to limit my Orthophonic Credenza to slightly earlier discs. You can not only check for the clean-ness of the vibraphone, but also how true the breathy quality of the clarinet comes through. Another good test for an Orthophonic or Viva-Tonal is how faithfully they reproduce the bagpipes at the start of Harry Lauder's electric recording of When I Meet MacKay (Victor 9024). In general, if I hear an obvious distortion that isn't from record wear, I try to find a record or two that have a passage in a similar frequency range to rule out an anomaly. If the reproducer rattles in the same range on similar passages, I go back and try to find the cause; imperfect adjustment, the rim of the diaphragm touching the housing, etc. Andrew Baron Santa Fe On Feb 24, 2013, at 10:14 PM, Arvin Casas wrote: > Hi All, > > I was wondering if folks have a favorite recording they reach for (or > require) when they are testing the chops of a new machine or a new/repaired > reproducer? > > If you have one, why? I'm interested in reasons technical (e.g., wide > frequency / volume variation) to personal (e.g., it's you post-repair good > luck charm, you like it enough that you don't mind hearing it over and over, > you know it so well that you know when it's the machine and not the record > underperforming, etc.,). > > I'm fine tuning my Viva-Tonal reproducers and was just curious if folks had > certain "obstacle course" recordings they rely on for testing/inaugurating > their equipment. I have none right now and am always looking for an excuse > to pick up some shellac. :-) > > Thanks, > > Arvin > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.org > _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
