My Reference Music Tracks - 2025 Expanded List
- dbstechtalk
- May 6
- 10 min read
In November 2021, I compiled a list of reference tracks to determine what I seek when assessing a product. Although I continue to use that list, I often incorporate other tracks. I've chosen to update my reference list to align more closely with my listening habits during review testing. Some tracks will remain, while others will be replaced, and many new tracks will be added.
Another reason for updating the songs is that I now use Tidal and AmazonHD streaming services less frequently than I did nearly four years ago when I first created the list. I've transitioned to primarily using downloaded music, which accounts for approximately 85% of my listening and testing. The playlist is available on Tidal and features music that I have both downloaded and streamed, enabling me to evaluate both methods.
When compiling a list of reference tracks, it is advisable to select those you admire for their production quality and that sound both natural and accurate. These tracks should accurately represent bass, mids, treble, staging, tone, timbre, details, and resolution, whether in the overall sound or in specific elements like vocals, percussion, or instruments. Incorporate a variety of reference tracks from different genres to obtain a broader perspective. Orchestral, jazz, and acoustic genres are particularly effective for showcasing a natural and realistic reproduction of instruments and vocalists. Additionally, include tracks with varying mixing and mastering qualities to evaluate how a product reproduces details and resolution. Reference tracks don't need to be your all-time favorite songs, but they should be ones you know very well. You should be familiar with how these tracks sound on your own reference equipment, so when you listen to them on different gear, you can identify and compare the differences.
I tend to prefer progressive classical, orchestral movie soundtracks, jazz, rock, heavy/hard rock, acoustic, country, and oldies. While I do listen to other music genres, I don't do so regularly.
NOTE: Please keep in mind that I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
Here is a link to the previously mentioned reference track list: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/does-your-music-preference-impact-your-sound-impressions
Let's briefly examine each song and discuss what I listen for when testing equipment.
Tidal Playlist link: 2025 THA Reference Music
Tingvall Trio “Beat”
What I'm listening for:
Natural piano tone and timbre
Percussion tone and timbre
Bass tone and timbre
Sinne Eeg “We’ve Just Begun”
What I'm listening for:
Accurate stage depth, layering and imaging
Female vocalist tone and timbre
Molly Johnson “What a Little Moonlight Can Do”
What I'm listening for:
Female vocalist tone and timbre
Piano tone timbre
Accurate stage depth and layering
Leslie Odom Jr. “Under Pressure”
What I'm listening for:
Male vocalist tone and timbre
Detail retrieval, resolution and control
Yo Yo Ma “Ecstasy of Gold”
What I'm listening for:
Natural tone and timbre
Adam Baldych “Spem in Alium”
What I'm listening for:
Natural tone and timbre
Accurate note weight and density
Percussive impact Michael Buble “When I Fall in Love”
What I'm listening for:
Male vocalist tone and timbre
Dynamics throughout the entire frequency response
Soundstage depth, layering
Patricia Barber “Code Cool”
(Beware this track is painful on most gear)
What I'm listening for:
Sibilance
Hot treble
Christian Scott “New New Orleans” (Beware this track can be painful on a lot of gear)
What I'm listening for:
Forward upper mids/lower treble
Sharpness
Harshness
Lackluster detail resolution Tool “Chocolate Chip Trip”
What I'm listening for:
Imaging
Precision
Stage width, depth and layering
Dave Holland Quartet “Conference Of The Birds”
What I'm listening for:
Natural tone and timbre
Realistic stage width, depth and layering
Detail retrieval and resolution
Ilhan Eshkeri - 47 Ronin “47 Ronin”
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic range
Percussion impact
Instrumentation
Tone and timbre
Realistic stage width, depth and layering
Cher “Believe” (Beware this track is painful on most gear)
What I'm listening for:
Sibilance
Hot treble
Distortion Houston Person “You are my Sunshine”
What I'm listening for:
Natural tone and timbre
Realistic detail retrieval and resolution
Diana Krall "Singing in the Rain"
What I'm listening for:
Natural tone and timbre
Separation
Female vocalist tone and timbre
40 Fingers "Last of the Mohicans"
What I'm listening for:
Natural tone and timbre
Separation
Realistic detail retrieval and resolution
David Phelps "America the Beautiful/God Bless America Medley" -
What I'm listening for:
Male vocalist tone and timbre
Natural tone and timbre
Separation
Layering
Jethro Tull "Aqualung"
What I'm listening for:
Seperation
Layering
Imaging
Sandi Patty "Swingin' Love Medley"
What I'm listening for:
Shouty
Resolution
Boxy
Petra "Jekylll & Hyde"
What I'm listening for:
Bass impact Recessed Vocal
Resolution
Bite/Edge/Crispness
Body
Steve Green "He Holds the Key"
What I'm listening for:
Clarity
Dynamic
Details
Resolution
Tone
Timbre
Brian Free & Assurance "Medley: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name/Doxology/Revive Us Again"
What I'm listening for:
Autotune
Artificial
Digitized
Seperation
Layering
Eva Cassidy "It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got that Swing)"
What I'm listening for:
Defined
Balanced
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Body
Note weight
Meatloaf "Bat Out of Hell" (Beware this track is painful on most gear)
What I'm listening for:
Clarity
Resolution
Details
Dynamic
The Cathedrals "Look For Me (Around the Throne)"
What I'm listening for:
4 Part Harmony
Tone
Timbre
Seperation
Layering
The Cathedrals "Champion of Love"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Body
Note weight
Tone
Timbre
Clarity
Separation
Layering
Details
Resolution
Charlotte Church "A Bit of Earth"
What I'm listening for:
Clarity
Details
Resolution
Tone
Timbre
Width
Depth
Layering
Note Weight
Natural
Norah Jones "Come Away With Me"
What I'm listening for:
Details
Resolution
Tone
Timbre
Intimacy
Natural
Megadeth "This Was My Life"
What I'm listening for:
Bass Impact
Depth
Layering
Clarity
Details
Resolution
Sarah Brightman "Angel"
What I'm listening for:
Width Depth
Details
Resolution
Tone
Timbre
Wycliffe Gordon "When the Saints Go Marching In"
What I'm listening for:
Placement
Depth
Layering
Dynamics
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Liveliness
Natural
The Eagles "Hotel California" (LIve at the Forum, Los Angeles, CA)
What I'm listening for:
Placement
Depth
Layering
Dynamics
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Crispness
Liveliness
Elvis Presley "Burning Love"
What I'm listening for:
Imaging
Placement
Separation
Layering
Elvis Presley "Hound Dog"
What I'm listening for:
Imaging
Placement
Separation
Layering
Shouty
Bite
Journey "Open Arms"
What I'm listening for:
Placement
Depth
Layering
Dynamics
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Crispness
Neil Young "Cinnamon Girl"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Details
Resolution
Layering
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra "Game of Thrones Suite"
What I'm listening for:
Liveliness Imaging
Width
Depth
Layering
Tone
Timbre
Control
Natural
Hyperion Knight "Rhapsody in Blue"
What I'm listening for:
Natural
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Depth
Note Weight
Jerry Goldsmith - Star Trek the Motion Picture "The Enterprise"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Jerry Goldsmith - Rudy "The Final Game"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic Percusssion control
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra "Welcome to Jurassic Park"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity Liveliness
Natural
Johnny Cash "I walk the Line" What I'm listening for:
Details
Resolution
Note weight
Journey "Don't Stop Believin' "
What I'm listening for:
Placement
Depth
Layering
Dynamics
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Crispness
Lynyrd Skynyrd "Simple Man"
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird" (Beware this track is painful on most gear)
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Aggressive
Shouty
Miles Davis "All Blues" (feat. John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley & Bill Evans)
What I'm listening for:
Intimate
Natural
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Miles Davis "Blue in Green" (feat. John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley & Bill Evans)
What I'm listening for:
Intimate
Natural
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Olivia Newton John "I Honestly Love You"
What I'm listening for:
Forward vocal
Clarity
Natural
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Note weight
Bruce Rowland - Man From Snowy River "End Titles"
What I'm listening for:
Details
Resolution
Control
Tone Timbre
Layering
Ozzy Osborne "No More Tears" (Beware this track is painful on most gear)
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Ozzy Osborne "Road to Nowhere"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Pistol Annies "Hell on Heels"
What I'm listening for:
3 Part Harmony
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Layering
Rush "Tom Sawyer"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Layering
Depth
Control
Details
Resolution
Imaging
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra "The Untouchables"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Two Steps from Hell "Cannon in D Minor"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Liveliness
Two Steps from Hell "Victory"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Liveliness
Two Steps from Hell "Impossible"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Liveliness
Two Steps from Hell "Heart of Courage"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Liveliness
Van Morrison "Gloria"
What I'm listening for:
Clarity
Width
Layering
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Hans Zimmer - The Last Samurai "Ronin"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Hans Zimmer - Rush "Lost But Won"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic Bass impact
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Gil Shaham - Orpheus Chamber Orchestra - Vilvaldi: "Concerto in E Major Spring, RV 269 i. allegro"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Liveliness
Yuja Wang - Gustavo Dudamel - Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela Rachmaninoff: "Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 i. Allego ma non tanto" (Live)
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural Note weight
Liveliness
Otis Taylor "Sunday Morning (A)"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control Width
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Otis Taylor "Sunday Morning (B)"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Width
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Otis Taylor "Sunday Morning (C)"
What I'm listening for: Bass control Width
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band "Fishin' in the Dark"
What I'm listening for:
Harmony
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Layering
Natural
ZZ Top "Sharp Dressed Man"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Width
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Recessed vocal
Bruce Broughton - Tombstone "Final Credits"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Bruce Broughton - Silverado "End Titles"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Boston "Foreplay/Long Time"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Width
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Metallica "The Unforgiven"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution Clarity
Intimacy
AC/DC "Hells Bells"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Width
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Clarity
AC/DC "Back in Black"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Width
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Metallica "Nothing Else Matters"
What I'm listening for:
Bass control
Depth
Note weight
Layering
Details
Resolution Clarity
Intimacy
Hans Zimmer - Backdraft "Hard Lesson to Learn"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic Percussion control
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Reba McEntire "Fancy"
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Layering
Wynonna Judd "Ain't No Sunshine"
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Layering
Natural
Oak Ridge Boys "Elvira" (Beware this track is painful on some gear)
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Layering
Details
Resolution
Skillet "Comatose" (Beware this track is painful on most gear)
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Width Layering
Details
Resolution
Bass control
Shouty
Reba McEntire "You Lie"
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Layering
Natural
Josh Groban "You Raise Me Up"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Layering
Natural
Adele "Set Fire to the Rain"
What I'm listening for:
Forward vocal Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Layering
Natural
Evanescence "Bring Me to Life " (Beware this track is painful on most gear)
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body
Width Layering
Details
Resolution
Bass control
Shouty Aggressive
Renee Olstead "Thanks for the Boogie Ride"
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body Width
Layering Imaging
Natural
ABBA "Chiquitita"
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Note weight
Body Width
Depth
Layering
Natural
Forward vocal
Bear McCreary - So Say We All "Colonial Anthem/Black Market" (Live) (Beware this track is painful on some gear)
What I'm listening for:
Dynamic
Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Liveliness
Caitlyn Smith "Supernova (Voice Memo)"
What I'm listening for: Width
Depth
Layering
Imaging
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
Liveliness
Willie Nelson - "Midnight Rider"
What I'm listening for:
Tone
Timbre
Details
Resolution
Clarity
Natural
So there is the list of 87 songs I use to test every product. It includes a range of genres, recording qualities, and bit rates. Some are personal favorites, while others are not, but each serves a purpose. I hope this clarifies my music preferences, choices, and what I focus on when evaluating a product.
I am Dave the Honest Audiophile. Thanks for reading, and I will catch you in the next one. Don't forget to enjoy the music and that honesty is the BEST policy!
I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalkDbs @TalkDbs
Discord: https://discord.gg/ZveuNxKxXY
Website: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com
YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgMj7xJ1SDxGqqxZ5l3g_jg/join
The Honest Audiophile research/review process: https://youtu.be/UkSnoZZNyYc Tierlist:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=sharing
Audio Terms/Definitions: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/the-honest-audiophile-s-terms-and-definitions-guide
Test Tracks: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/does-your-music-preference-impact-your-sound-impressions
Amazon playlist: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/afb5506483ba4ae3be17c2184797ebb6sune?ref=dm_sh_ycUHvBw1lOkeqCrwPFcc45NAl
Tidal Playlists:Jazz: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ea7f58ba-f05d-466f-9714-936d0ab7fa0f
Recommended Gear:
Audeze LCD-5: https://www.audeze.com/products/lcd-5
Rosson Audio Design RAD-0: http://www.rossonaudiodesign.com/
Meze Empyrean: https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-empyrean
Hifiman Ananda: https://hifiman.com/products/detail/290
Sennheiser HD660s2: https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-US/p/hd-660s2/clcrij55r0b570bw9bubufphu/
Austrian Audio Hi-X60: https://austrian.audio/headphones/hi-x60/
Audeze LCD 2 Closed: LCD-2 Closed Back (audeze.com)
CTM Da Vinci X: https://cleartunemonitors.com/products/da-vinci-x-universal
Westone Mach 60: https://westoneaudio.com/product/mach-60/
Tin Hifi T2: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t2?_pos=1&_sid=7cddd72dc&_ss=r&variant=34447375302811
Sony NW-A105: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwa105-b
Sony NW-WM-1a: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwwm1a
Mytek Liberty DAC ii: https://mytek.audio/shop/lbrt-dac-ii-287#attr=Mytek Liberty THX HPA: https://mytek.audio/shop/liberty-thx-285#attr=
HeadAmp GSX-Mini: https://www.headamp.com/products/gs-x-mini
Tor Audio Roger: https://toraudio.com/main.html#
Schiit Audio BiFrost 2: https://schiit.com/products/bi-frost-1
Massdrop THX AAA 789:
Massdrop THX AAA One Linear: https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-one-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
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