Audio Test Material I Commonly Use

I get a lot of questions about what material I use to test audio. The following are things I use frequently to confirm a proper audio setup. These discs are not generally meant as some kind of torture test for your home theater. You should note a lot of music can be found in this list. I find music to be some of the easiest material to isolate setup and equipment problems if you are familiar with the sound.

Test Tones

Dolby Atmos Blu-Ray Demo Disc (Sep 2015) – Up to 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos Test Tones (wide band pink noise that requires measurement equipment to use properly)

Avia Guide To Home Theater (limited to 5 channels) – Channel Levels (band limited pink noise that requires an SPL meter to use well, you can try and balance the channels by ear with these tones)

Avia Guide To Home Theater (limited to 5 channels) – Phase Test (use these by ear to check for up to 5 speakers being out of phase)

Avia Guide To Home Theater (limited to 5 channels) – Wide band pink noise (requires measurement equipment to use properly)

Avia Guide To Home Theater (limited to 5 channels) – Band limited pink noise pan (useful for listener confirmation of channel level balance)

Goldline TK51 DVD (limited to 7 channels) – LFE Level Test (requires measurement equipment to use properly)

Goldline TK51 DVD (limited to 7 channels) – Channel Frequency Sweeps (useful for pinpointing sources of distortion and rattles)

Goldline TK51 DVD (limited to 7 channels) – Polarity Test (requires an instrument that detects phase from a pulse, useful for determining speaker and subwoofer absolute phase)

Dialog

Charlotte Gray DVD – There are several scenes in this movie that are useful for checking dialog intelligibility and timbre. These include the scene in the train with two people, the scene by the plant with three people, the scene where the woman pounds on the door and the scene where Charlotte Gray is being interviewed by a man. The character of the voices in these scenes is unique and can help pinpoint problems with dialog. This movie is a beautiful overall sound mix, but does not exercise the surrounds very much.

Low Frequency Effects

Dolby Atmos Blu-Ray Demo Disc (Sep 2015) – Amaze Trailer. Near the beginning is a strong bass effect. This effect should be strong, but not over powering. The lightning strike in the last half of the disc is VERY strong and will shake the room when played on large subwoofers. CAUTION the lightning strike in the last half of this disc can overload some subwoofers that are not properly filtered.

3:10 To Yuma Blu-Ray – The train entering the station near the end of the movie is a very nice strong bass effect that sounds realistic if you were near the train.

The Greatest Showman UHD Atmos – Impressive bass at the beginning of the movie when people are stomping in the stands.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith DVD – The opening sequence with the battle star has very strong bass. When this is not present dynamic range compression may be active.

Surround Effects

Dolby Atmos Blu-Ray Demo Disc (Sep 2015) – Amaze Trailer (good test at beginning for surround sound circling the room evenly). CAUTION the lightning strike in the last half of this disc can overload some subwoofers that are not properly filtered.

Dolby Atmos Blu-Ray Demo Disc (Sep 2015) – Audiosphere Trailer (good test for overhead speakers and speaker distortion)

Dynamic Range

Dolby Atmos Blu-Ray Demo Disc (Sep 2015) – Unbroken Movie Clip (good test for loud sounds during anti-aircraft explosions and machine gun fire against Japanese Zero attacks)

Appaloosa Blu-Ray – The gun shots in the bar gun fight near the beginning of the movie sound amazing on a well setup system.

Quantum Of Solace – The car chase scene in the opening sequence is like a theme park ride in theaters with the best dynamic range. It feels like you are in the car when things are working well.

Surround Music

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds: Live At Radio City Blu-Ray – This is an amazing recording of two people playing acoustic guitars. One of the best surround music recordings I have heard.

Chris Botti: Live with Orchestra and Special Guests Blu-Ray – A wide variety of instruments and vocals. One of the best surround music recordings I have heard.

Dolby Atmos Blu-Ray Demo Disc (Sep 2015) – Enrique Iglesias – Bailando Music Video (good test for overall timbre balance, bass should be reasonably strong, but not over powering)

The Greatest Showman UHD Atmos – The music sequence when Jenny Lind has her first performance in the USA is outstanding. The surround sound mix in the movie overall is great.

Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon SACD – Time and Money (good tracks for checking audio clarity and timbre). Excellent surround music mix that should sound amazing on a well setup system.

Steely Dan Gaucho SACD – Time Out Of Mind (meticulously mastered recording). This whole album sounds great on well setup equipment.

An Acoustic Evening At The Vienna Opera House – The Balad Of John Henry (great guitar and drums). This whole album sounds great on well setup equipment.

One Night Only: Barbra Streisand and Quartet at the Village Vanguard – Gorgeous music mix throughout with a small band and piano. The audience clapping near the end sounds very realistic on the best systems.

Alicia Keys VH1 Story Tellers Blu-Ray – Empire State Of Mind (Part II). This is a great live performance of a modern classic.

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Janine Jansen SACD – Beautiful classical chamber music. Excellent disc for demonstrating the ability of the system to master the subtleties of classical chamber music.

Good Surround Mix

Dolby Atmos Blu-Ray Demo Disc (Sep 2015) – Red Bull F1 (good test for sound clarity, nice bass effects as well)

The Duchess Blu-Ray – An overall beautiful and believable sound mix.

Stereo Music

Janis Ian Breaking Silence CD – His Hands (beautiful mix with strong, but not overpowering bass). This whole album sounds great on well setup equipment.

Muddy Waters HDAD – My Home Is In The Delta (amazing blues performance). This whole album sounds great on well setup equipment.

Sera una Noche CD – Eclectic audiophile recording of various instruments in a live venue. This album will demonstrate how close a system comes to a live performance.