Hi there
A few days ago I finally got my system installed: Focal Utopia 136W's, Audison 2.500, Focal 27WX Sub, Alpine 300w amp (had already, looking to change in future),MEI 6x9's(had already, looking to change) and am blown away by the sound. It is beyond my expectations, which were extremely high. I have been listening to everytype of music I can get my hands on. I heard a song by des rea (something like that) called kissing you its a chick song, but it sounds amazing. Her voice is so powerful and the piano and violin sound incredible it gives me shivers listening to the song. As I am listening to some of my favorite songs I hear parts that I have never heard before, its like I am hearing all of my music for the first time. Anyways I love the sounds of the instruments and my question to all of you is: Can you recommend any symphonies or orchestra songs that sound great?
Thanks so much for your time, I can't wait to go listen more!

Go buy yourself the Norah Jones album - "come away with me"
It's got FANTASTIC recording and it sounds absolutely wonderful on any SQ system.

another couple to try and get ur hands on are
"diana krall - the girl in the other room"
"frank sinatra - live at the sands"
"bjork - medulla" (very odd, but great recording)
"wilco - a ghost is born" (these guys put out some of the most 'honest' recordings you will find)

Or Mariah Carey - Music Box

Track 7 and 11 are well known for SQ testing

also try some royal crown review stuff
mostly from Caught In The Act
great live stuff
and swing bands always demo a system nicely!

-Gaz

Thanks I'll try to get my hands on all of those songs, can't wait to hear them!

Tiger unfortunately SQ speakers dont extend that high in the frequency range .

Unless they make supersonic speakers i doubt Mariah is any kind of quality .

I take this as a recommendation for well-recorded classical music? I will only recommend recordings which are still in print:

Beethoven Symphony No. 9. Conductor: Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philarhomic Orchestra. Deutsche Grammofon. This is a fast-paced and exciting version of this symphony played by an orchestra known for its military precision. The DG sound technicians got the recording spot on. On my home system, stereo seperation is excellent and instrumental timbre is clear. Highly recommended.

Wagner's Das Ring der Niebelungen. Conductor: Georg Solti, London Symphony Orchestra. Decca. I have the full 14-CD set with all 4 operas in the great Ring cycle but then i'm a little hardcore You only need to buy a CD of excerpts. This recording is nearly 30 years old but there are no issues with the SQ. If you are a hi-fi nut, Wagner is very interesting to listen to because his sounds are very big and richly orchestrated. Solti's version is well regarded in the classical music world and he gives Wagner an immediacy that some other conductors lack. He also pushes the orchestra very hard and you can hear them getting sloppy from time to time but IMO that just adds to the excitement.

Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde. Conductor: Bruno Walter. Soloists: Kathleen Ferrier, Julius Patzak. Publisher: Sony. This should not be attempted by classical music n00bies because Mahler melodies can be long, tortured, not intuitive, and difficult to follow. Having said that, this is an incredible work which is an emotional rollercoaster. You will not believe how sad music can sound until you reach the end of the final song which is essentially bitterness that the beauty of the world needs to be given up when you die. It has a trance-like silence interrupted by little bells and shivers from the harp. The recording is excellent too.

Unfortunately great recordings are hard to come by in the classical music world. Most studio recordings sound sterile and lack the excitement of a live performance. Unfortunately most live performances are recorded poorly.

yeah pretty much any classic classical music will work wonders too
full orchestras always show off the SQ of a system

stay away from rock bands and woggy stuff and you will be right

-Gaz

tghink you shoud get susan wong, its 24 bit digital recording with great sounds, specially track number 4, close to you

angelica - lamb
any other name - thomas newman

havent tried them on a SQ system yet, only on my computer setup (5 channel Home Theatre Amp, lol) and i thought they would be perfect for SQ

The copies of Norah Jones that Tuneman and I have both sound like crap!
There seems to be noises like poping and clicking sounds during certain parts or the music.

We have tested this on a few different systems and found the same thing.

We know it isn't a problem with the systems because the noise is there at the same point in time on the track each time and with other recordings there is no problem.

Possibly there is a problem with the pressing of the CD...

My dad got his copy imported from America. I haven't noticed any of these popping or clicking sounds...

Do you have an exact location of them?

1812 overture - the canon ROCKS! or toccata and fugue in D minor - although it can be a bit harsh... Also, the classical song on the sheffield drive CD rocks I also listen to Jennifer Warnes, The Hunter (FINALLY got a copy!!!!) and james/linvingston taylor.