If you only had one song to play...

[kcoakley]

Okay, I know this is just a variation on another thread theme but I'm going to ask anyway:

If you only had one song to play to really show off your Ascends, what song would you pick?

I ask because I'm having a large group of non-audiophiles with short attention spans over for an event unrelated to music and I suspect I'll have just one chance to really show off my towers so I don't want to blow it.

Thanks for your thoughts,
Ken

[Dark Ranger]

Oh man, that's a tough question.

I think the overall response will depend a great deal on the audiences' tastes. If you play a stunning chamber orchestra performance, but the audience hates classical, it won't have much of an impact. If you choose prog rock, but most of the attendees prefer pop, it might not really matter.

If I could choose only one song, I'd probably select something that doesn't require a long build up, something with a groove, and with common instruments like bass, guitar, drums, percussion, etc.

Switchback or Querido Amigo (by Jesse Cook | Free Fall album)

If you had more time and your guests were more interested, I'd suggest that the guests bring some of their favorite music instead. It's always great to see someone's face light up when they hear their favorite music played like they've never heard it before. Most folks these days are used to iPods and poor-quality earbuds.

[pierreterrier]

Dire Straits- Brothers in Arms- side two. That would blow anyone's musical mind away, classical, jazz, pop, rock fans or whatever, no matter. Enjoy!

[davef]

Nils Lofgren's "Keith Don't Go"

[billy p]

Okay I'll bite...Virtue from Jesse Cook's Free Fall CD....it has these cymbals you can faintly hear in the background. Before auditioning my Sierra 1's ...I never really noticed that song on my other speakers...what does that tell you about the Ascends. But IMO prudy much anything Jesse Cook sounds sweet....the Ascends really complement his style of playing.

[petmotel]

Okay, I know this is just a variation on another thread theme but I'm going to ask anyway:

If you only had one song to play to really show off your Ascends, what song would you pick?

I ask because I'm having a large group of non-audiophiles with short attention spans over for an event unrelated to music and I suspect I'll have just one chance to really show off my towers so I don't want to blow it.

Thanks for your thoughts,
Ken

Stereo, or multi channel? They would be different for me.

Jay

[kcoakley]

Stereo, or multi channel? They would be different for me.

Jay

Hi Jay,

I'd love to know your choices for both stereo and multi-channel. These would be different for me as well.

Thanks,
Ken

[kcoakley]

Thanks to all who replied.

I've added "Keith Don't Go" and Jesse Cook's Free Fall to my rotation due to these recommendations and I have to agree that they sound fantastic.

I'm embarrassed to admit that although I have the Dire Straits BiA SACD, I've only listened to the first 3 tracks. So a quick "thank you" to pierreterrier for getting me to listen to the rest of the album. Great stuff.

In the end I had a fairly captive audience for about 15 minutes listening to the Towers. As Dark Ranger suggested, I tried to take their tastes into account as much as possible. My playlist was as follows:

- Money For Nothing (Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms SACD) This is a great one to just knock their socks off.

- I Don't Know Why (Norah Jones, Come Away With Me SACD) Something soft after Money For Nothing to show the range of the Towers. A strong female vocal recording is a must in any listening session.

- Walking in Memphis (Marc Cohn) Everyone loves this song and it sounds fantastic.

- Some Nights (Fun.) I played this one for the youngsters in the crowd and they were blown away by how much better a song can sound when it's not being played on their iPhones.

It was a successful session and most were really floored by the power and presence of the Towers.

Ken

[pierreterrier]

Glad to hear a good time was had by all Ken. Pierre.

[petmotel]

Hi Jay,

I'd love to know your choices for both stereo and multi-channel. These would be different for me as well.

Thanks,
Ken

This really is a tough question because you need to take into account the demographics, and genre preferences of your audience.

That said, for a stereo demo it'd be hard to beat Joe Cocker's "Unchain My Heart" as a serious rocker that has it all top to bottom. Great dynamics, bass, treble, horns, male vocal, female vocal, rockabilly piano, great drum track, very nice bass guitar, lead guitar, etc... Very well recorded for a mainstream rock title.

Although I'm mostly a jazz fan these days, I think my pick for an awesome multi-channel track would be something out of the AIX catalog, something like chapter four of "Moonlight Acoustica", which showcases the amazing imaging abilities of the Ascend ensemble in addition to their dynamic, and detail prowess. I love when a multi-track images an instrument in space between the front and rear speakers where the sound seems to just come out of nowhere.

Jay