Speaker Test Songs

September 2025

Saw a post on Mastodon with the question:

What's your audio equipment testing song?

Theirs was Dragon Attack by Queen:

A solid choice.

I don't have a single song. I test with a playlist. Mostly from a decade ago, they're still great for putting drivers through their paces.

Hey Joe (Live) - The Gabe Dixon Band
Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Cocain Blues - Escort
Royals - Lorde
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Cannonball Adderley
Church Windows - San Michele Arcangelo - Ottorino Respighi
The Firebird Suite VI - Finale - Igor Stravinsky
Smoke a Little Smoke - Eric Church
Paranoid Andriod - Radiohead
Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple
Good Evening - Blind Mississippi Morris
Big Country - Béla Fleck
Baba O'Riley - The Who
High Roller - The Crystal Method
The Heard Bionic - Bobby Bare, Jr.
Small World (Pt. 2) - Huey Lewis and The News
Young Fathers - TYPHOON

For what it's worth, I spend most of my time in these Philips SHP9600 open back headphones. I'm no audiophile, but I give more of a shit about how my music sounds than most folks I know. These do great.

I didn't realize how nice wearing open back headphones would be. I can keep them on all day and they stay comfortable. Fair warning that if you're in an office there's a good chance the person at the neighboring desk will hear a bit of what you're listening to.

-a

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Endnotes

Depending on your connection and whatever these youtube tracks may be compressed. Mileage may vary.

Looking up these songs kinda blew me away.

The Heart Bionic track has 2.3K views.

After 4 being posted for four years the Blind Mississippi Morris one has 117.

There's a good chance I just introduced you to new music.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.