My Updated Listening Philosophy, Process, and Full Reference Track List
- dbstechtalk
- May 6
- 10 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Back in November 2021, I created my first reference‑track list to help explain what I listen for when evaluating audio gear. I still use many of those tracks today, but over time my listening habits have evolved, and so has the music I rely on. Some songs have stayed, others have been replaced, and many new tracks have earned a permanent place in my testing rotation.
Another major change since then is how I listen. I use Tidal and Amazon HD far less than I did four years ago. Today, roughly 85% of my listening and testing is done with downloaded music, not streaming. The playlist is still available on Tidal for convenience, but my evaluations are based primarily on files I know extremely well.
When building a reference playlist, choose tracks you trust—music with strong production quality that sounds natural, accurate, and honest. Your playlist should reveal bass, mids, treble, staging, tone, timbre, detail, and resolution. Some tracks highlight everything at once; others expose a single weakness instantly. Mix genres. Orchestral, jazz, and acoustic recordings are especially good at revealing realism and timbre accuracy. Include tracks with different mixing and mastering styles so you can hear how gear handles both the good and the not‑so‑good.
Your reference tracks don’t have to be your all‑time favorites, but they should be songs you know extremely well. You should know how they sound on your own reference gear so that when you listen on something new, the differences stand out immediately.
My personal preferences lean toward progressive classical, orchestral film scores, jazz, rock, heavy and hard rock, acoustic, country, and oldies. I listen to other genres too, just not as consistently.
A quick note:
I’m not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist. I don’t run scientific tests or measurements. Everything here comes from my own listening, comparing, and research. My real‑world experience with recording and mixing gear is limited to volunteer work as a church sound booth tech since my teenage years.Please take these thoughts for what they are—my honest audiophile impressions and reasoning.
2025 THA Reference Music Playlist
Below is the complete list of 89 reference tracks I use to evaluate every product. Each one includes a short note on what I listen for.
🎵 Reference Tracks & What I Listen For
Tingvall Trio – “Beat”
Natural piano tone and timbre • percussion tone and timbre • bass tone and timbre
Sinne Eeg – “We’ve Just Begun”
Stage depth • layering • imaging • female vocalist tone and timbre
Molly Johnson – “What a Little Moonlight Can Do”
Female vocalist tone and timbre • piano tone and timbre • stage depth and layering
Leslie Odom Jr. – “Under Pressure”
Male vocalist tone and timbre • detail retrieval • resolution • control
Yo‑Yo Ma – “Ecstasy of Gold”
Natural tone and timbre
Adam Bałdych – “Spem in Alium”
Natural tone and timbre • note weight • density • percussive impact
Michael Bublé – “When I Fall in Love”
Male vocalist tone and timbre • dynamics • stage depth and layering
Patricia Barber – “Code Cool” (harsh on most gear)
Sibilance • hot treble
Christian Scott – “New New Orleans” (harsh on many setups)
Forward upper‑mids • sharpness • harshness • weak detail resolution
Tool – “Chocolate Chip Trip”
Imaging • precision • stage width, depth, layering
Dave Holland Quartet – “Conference of the Birds”
Natural tone and timbre • realistic staging • detail retrieval • resolution
Ilhan Eshkeri – 47 Ronin – “47 Ronin”
Dynamic range • percussion impact • instrumentation • tone and timbre • staging
Cher – “Believe” (painful on most gear)
Sibilance • hot treble • distortion
Houston Person – “You Are My Sunshine”
Natural tone and timbre • realistic detail retrieval and resolution
Diana Krall – “Singing in the Rain”
Natural tone and timbre • separation • female vocalist tone and timbre
40 Fingers – “Last of the Mohicans”
Natural tone and timbre • separation • realistic detail and resolution
David Phelps – “America the Beautiful / God Bless America Medley”
Male vocalist tone and timbre • natural tone • separation • layering
Jethro Tull – “Aqualung”
Separation • layering • imaging
Sandi Patty – “Swingin’ Love Medley”
Shoutiness • resolution • boxiness
Petra – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Bass impact • recessed vocals • resolution • bite/edge • body
Steve Green – “He Holds the Key”
Clarity • dynamics • details • resolution • tone • timbre
Brian Free & Assurance – “Medley: All Hail the Power / Doxology / Revive Us Again”
Autotune • artificial/digitized artifacts • separation • layering
Eva Cassidy – “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”
Definition • balance • tone • timbre • details • resolution • body • note weight
Meat Loaf – “Bat Out of Hell” (painful on most gear)
Clarity • resolution • details • dynamics
The Cathedrals – “Look for Me (Around the Throne)”
Four‑part harmony • tone • timbre • separation • layering
The Cathedrals – “Champion of Love”
Dynamics • body • note weight • tone • timbre • clarity • separation • layering • details • resolution
Charlotte Church – “A Bit of Earth”
Clarity • details • resolution • tone • timbre • width • depth • layering • note weight • natural presentation
Norah Jones – “Come Away With Me”
Details • resolution • tone • timbre • intimacy • natural presentation
Megadeth – “This Was My Life”
Bass impact • depth • layering • clarity • details • resolution
Sarah Brightman – “Angel”
Width • depth • details • resolution • tone • timbre
Wycliffe Gordon – “When the Saints Go Marching In”
Placement • depth • layering • dynamics • tone • timbre • details • resolution • liveliness • natural presentation
The Eagles – “Hotel California” (Live at the Forum)
Placement • depth • layering • dynamics • tone • timbre • details • resolution • crispness • liveliness
Elvis Presley – “Burning Love”
Imaging • placement • separation • layering
Elvis Presley – “Hound Dog”
Imaging • placement • separation • layering • shoutiness • bite
Journey – “Open Arms”
Placement • depth • layering • dynamics • tone • timbre • details • resolution • crispness
Neil Young – “Cinnamon Girl”
Bass control • details • resolution • layering
Danish National Symphony Orchestra – “Game of Thrones Suite”
Liveliness • imaging • width • depth • layering • tone • timbre • control • natural presentation
Hyperion Knight – “Rhapsody in Blue”
Natural tone and timbre • details • resolution • depth • note weight
Jerry Goldsmith – Star Trek: The Motion Picture – “The Enterprise”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation
Jerry Goldsmith – Rudy – “The Final Game”
Dynamics • percussion control • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation
Danish National Symphony Orchestra – “Welcome to Jurassic Park”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • liveliness • natural presentation
Johnny Cash – “I Walk the Line”
Details • resolution • note weight
Journey – “Don’t Stop Believin’”
Placement • depth • layering • dynamics • tone • timbre • details • resolution • crispness
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Simple Man”
Tone • timbre • details • resolution
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Free Bird” (painful on most gear)
Tone • timbre • details • resolution • aggression • shoutiness
Miles Davis – “All Blues”
Intimacy • natural tone • timbre • details • resolution
Miles Davis – “Blue in Green”
Intimacy • natural tone • timbre • details • resolution
Olivia Newton‑John – “I Honestly Love You”
Forward vocals • clarity • natural tone • timbre • details • resolution • note weight
Bruce Rowland – The Man From Snowy River – “End Titles”
Details • resolution • control • tone • timbre • layering
Ozzy Osbourne – “No More Tears” (painful on most gear)
Bass control • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution
Ozzy Osbourne – “Road to Nowhere”
Bass control • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution
Pistol Annies – “Hell on Heels”
Three‑part harmony • tone • timbre • note weight • body • layering
Rush – “Tom Sawyer”
Dynamics • layering • depth • control • details • resolution • imaging
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – “The Untouchables”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation
Two Steps From Hell – “Cannon in D Minor”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation • liveliness
Two Steps From Hell – “Victory”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation • liveliness
Two Steps From Hell – “Impossible”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation • liveliness
Two Steps From Hell – “Heart of Courage”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation • liveliness
Van Morrison – “Gloria”
Clarity • width • layering • tone • timbre • details • resolution
Hans Zimmer – The Last Samurai – “Ronin”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation
Hans Zimmer – Rush – “Lost But Won”
Dynamics • bass impact • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity
Gil Shaham / Orpheus Chamber Orchestra – Vivaldi: “Spring, RV 269: I. Allegro”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation • liveliness
Yuja Wang / Gustavo Dudamel – Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 (Live)
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation • note weight • liveliness
Otis Taylor – “Sunday Morning (A)”
Bass control • width • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution
Otis Taylor – “Sunday Morning (B)”
Bass control • width • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution
Otis Taylor – “Sunday Morning (C)”
Bass control • width • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – “Fishin’ in the Dark”
Harmony • tone • timbre • note weight • body • layering • natural presentation
ZZ Top – “Sharp Dressed Man”
Bass control • width • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution • recessed vocals
Bruce Broughton – Tombstone – “Final Credits”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation
Bruce Broughton – Silverado – “End Titles”
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation
Boston – “Foreplay/Long Time”
Bass control • width • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution • clarity
Metallica – “The Unforgiven”
Bass control • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution • clarity • intimacy
AC/DC – “Hells Bells”
Bass control • width • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution • clarity
AC/DC – “Back in Black”
Bass control • width • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution • clarity
Metallica – “Nothing Else Matters”
Bass control • depth • note weight • layering • details • resolution • clarity • intimacy
Hans Zimmer – Backdraft – “Hard Lesson to Learn”
Dynamics • percussion control • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation
Reba McEntire – “Fancy”
Tone • timbre • note weight • body • layering
Wynonna Judd – “Ain’t No Sunshine”
Tone • timbre • note weight • body • layering • natural presentation
Oak Ridge Boys – “Elvira”
Tone • timbre • note weight • body • layering • details • resolution
Skillet – “Comatose”
Tone • timbre • note weight • body • width • layering • details • resolution • bass control • shoutiness
Reba McEntire – “You Lie”
Tone • timbre • note weight • body • layering • natural presentation
Josh Groban – “You Raise Me Up”
Dynamics • tone • timbre • note weight • body • layering • natural presentation
Adele – “Set Fire to the Rain”
Forward vocals • tone • timbre • note weight • body • layering • natural presentation
Evanescence – “Bring Me to Life”
Tone • timbre • note weight • body • width • layering • details • resolution • bass control • shoutiness • aggression
Renée Olstead – “Thanks for the Boogie Ride”
Dynamics • tone • timbre • note weight • body • width • layering • imaging • natural presentation
ABBA – “Chiquitita”
Tone • timbre • note weight • body • width • depth • layering • natural presentation • forward vocals
Bear McCreary – “Colonial Anthem / Black Market” (Live)
Dynamics • width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation • liveliness
Caitlyn Smith – “Supernova (Voice Memo)”
Width • depth • layering • imaging • tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation • liveliness
Willie Nelson – “Midnight Rider”
Tone • timbre • details • resolution • clarity • natural presentation
Final Thoughts
That completes the full list of 89 reference tracks I use to evaluate every product. The playlist spans multiple genres, recording qualities, and bitrates. Some tracks are personal favorites, others are simply useful tools—but each one reveals something important about how a piece of gear performs.
I hope this helps clarify my music choices and what I focus on during evaluations.
I’m Dave, The Honest Audiophile.Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you in the next one.
Don’t forget to enjoy the music—and remember, 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
If you like the content of this channel and want to see more like this in the future, please consider donating. All funds donated to the channel will be used to purchase headphones and audio gear for the channel.
Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/dbsylvia
Venmo: @David-Sylvia-6
If you would like to contact the channel please send an email to: dbstechtalk@gmail.com
Affiliate links:
Apos Audio: https://apos.audio?sca_ref=45218.8XN5h6dArS
ADV-Sound: https://adv-sound.com/?mct=8ENJK5lB promo code: DavidS10