"What a refreshingly honest blog about listening to music through hi-fi. So happy to see views based upon the enjoyment of music rather than so-called sound 'quality'." - Peter Comeau, Director of Acoustic Design at Mission / Wharfedale

Choice Tracks

Stephen Fearing - Out to Sea - Carsten:  acoustic guitar maestro - demonstrates emotion and detail.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - All tracks:  70s concept album at its best - subtlety and detail needed.


Archive - You All Look The Same To Me - Again:  trip-hop meets progressive rock.  Complex track that needs great timing and no nasty edges in your system.

Thea Gilmore - Loft Music - Ever Fallen In Love:  an acoustic take on classic Buzzcocks track.  Full of emotional vocals and you'll need deep, well controlled bass.

Yello - Touch - Till Tomorrow: superbly laid back bluesy electronic track featuring (the real, live) Till Bronner who's trumpet accompaniment is ridiculously breathy and superbly recorded. System needs to have superb mid-range and dynamics.

Blues Company - Hot & Ready To Serve - Dark Day:  How odd, a blues band from Germany.  A great one too - this is a laid back lick that is deceptively simple.  Some of the best recordings of cymbals I've had the pleasure of listening to - if there's any danger of splashiness or out of control treble, this track will bring it out for you!  Better systems show the intricacy of the persistent bass line - lesser systems play some of the notes as if they were one, whereas there are many of the "moves" that are quiet complex.  Some bonkers deep electronic drum effects are subtely added in for added tension - but beware of excessive bass boom caused by standing sound waves in your room.

Blues Company - ...Blues, Ballads and Assorted Love Songs - Cold Rain:  More blues sophistication.  Possibly the best kick drum recording?

For very subtle underpinning deepness, try the St Germain track "Family Tree" from the 2015 album "St Germain". Starts off full of top end detail but persevere past 3m 48s and you'll either hear it, or wonder what on earth its about, in which case, apologies to those with standmount speakers and no sub 


Not at all hifi (due to the low bitrate stream), but a great place for 2 hour long house sessions:  Fierce Angel Radio Show - hosted by Mark Doyle, of Hed Kandi and Fierce Angel fame.  https://www.mixcloud.com/fierceangelradio/