System Testing Playlist: Our Go-To Songs For Audio System Testing
System testing is a crucial step for any AV installation. It is important to test the boundaries of any audio system in order to identify areas where your system might under-perform and correct them before completing an install. In order to do that, you’ll want to play a variety of songs through your system. But not just any songs will do. It is important to build a proper system testing playlist. If you aren’t sure which songs are right for a system testing playlist, you can refer to our guide “The Best Songs For System Testing“. But, if you don’t feel like creating your own playlist, no worries, we have made one for you!
These are our team’s tried and true tracks for system testing and system demos.
Use our “System Testing Listening Guide” to zero in on specific instruments and frequencies while using our System Testing Playlist.
Use this guide:
- To quickly identify problem frequencies
- To understand frequency ranges and the tones that occupy them
- As a demo asset for clients and partners
- For ear training
Song Breakdown
System Testing Playlist: Our Go-To Songs For Audio System Testing
In order to understand why we’ve chosen these specific songs, we ran each track through a Frequency Analalizer and charted critical frequencies during playback.
Each colored line represents a specific part of the song that contains important frequencies for system testing. These are the parts/moments that make each specific track shine with a well-tuned audio system. If these frequencies aren’t coming through clearly, that’s when you know to go back to tuning.
This will help you know whether to listen for the vocalist, drums, or other instruments and which frequencies to pay attention to.
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #1
Circle of Life – From “The Lion King” Soundtrack
This track has a lot of big moments. From the big vocal lines that open the song to the big drums that drive the chorus. The great thing about movie soundtracks is they are purposefully composed to be dramatic. And drama is great for pushing your audio systems to the limits.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Vocal Intro
Orange = NA
Yellow = First Verse
Light Green = Chorus
Green = Solo Section
Light Blue = Final Big Chorus
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 172 Hz – 517 Hz Main Vocal, Freq spikes at 1k, 2k, 3k, 4k, etc. Background Vocals
Orange = NA
Yellow = 689 Hz Female Vocal
Light Green = Vocals & Drums
Green = Flute
Light Blue = Vocals & Drums
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #2
Tin Pan Alley (AKA Roughest Place In Town)
The beauty of this track is in the empty space. With only three instruments and voice (guitar, bass, drums, vocals), you can clearly see the separation of each element on the frequency spectrum below. Even without the visuals of the graphs, it’s very easy to listen and identify each individual element with your ears. That means, it will also be easy to identify any frequencies that sound off.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Guitar Begins
Yellow = Vocals Begin
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 100 Hz – 250 Hz Bass Guitar, Kick Drum, Snare
4.5 kHz Cymbals (Sizzles & Overtones)
Orange = 450 Hz Guitar
Yellow = 300 Hz Male Vocal
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #3
These Days - foo fighters
This is a great rock track to see what your systems are made of. But the best use of this track is to test how your system handles dynamic range. This track starts very stripped down with just the guitar and continually adds instrumental layers. It goes from soft and subtle to a Rock N’ Roll punch in the face within 60 seconds.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Voice Begins
Yellow = Full Band
Light Green = Big Chorus
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 400 Hz Guitar, Soft Dynamics
Orange = 200 Hz Male Vocal
Yellow = Full Spectrum Dynamics shoot up
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #4
Madness - Muse
This track is showcases dynamic range really well as it begins with a very bass-heavy electronic riff and adds new layers throughout the song until it reaches a dynamic peak in the bridge. There is plenty of space and the since it’s more modern the recording is extremely clean and clear.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Drum Track Begins
Yellow = Verse
Light Green = Verse 2
Green = Solo Section
Light Blue = Full Band
Blue = Bridge
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 100 Hz Bassy Electronic Synth
Orange = 180 – 150 Hz Electronic Kick & Snare
Yellow = 200 – 300 Hz Male Vocal
Light Green = 500 – 800 Hz Guitar & Background Vocals
Green = NA
Light Blue = Full Spectrum
Blue = Dynamic Climax -5dB
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #5
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
This track is all about the mix. You should be able to pick any instrument you want, and quickly and easily identify it in the mix. Everything sits in it’s own unique space and each element compliments the rest. From the low and bouncy bass track to the rhythmic and bell-toned guitar, even claps, clicks, and digital tones galore. All of this driven by an up-beat dance drumbeat. You’ll have fun groovin’ along to this one while tweaking your system settings.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Instrumental Track
Orange = Verse
Yellow = Pre-Chorus
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 100 Hz Bass Line, 450 Hz Rhythm Guitar
Orange = 300 Hz Male Vocals
Yellow = 1 kHz – 15 kHz Vocal Decay & Overtones
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #6
Halleluja - pentatonix
Vocal clarity, variety, and dynamic range are the three kings of this track. As a fully acapella song, there aren’t too many frequencies hiding here. Everything is right there for your listening (and tuning) pleasure. The amazing thing is how low the vocals actually get in this recording. Avi Kaplan, the bass of the group, gets low! This is a great chance to listen to the quality of the vocals (reverb, brightness, warmth, breath) and the harmonic frequencies of the silence.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = First Verse
Orange = First Verse
Yellow = First Chorus
Light Green = Verse 2
Green = Verse 3
Light Blue = Final Chorus
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 250 Hz Male Vocal
Orange = 400 Hz Background Vocal Harmonies
Yellow = 100 – 200 Hz Bass Vocals
Light Green = 700 – 1200 Hz Background Vocals (“Ha’s)
Green = 517 – 1,000 Hz Female Vocals
Light Blue = Full Spectrum – Climax
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #7
It's A Long Way To The Top (If you Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)
The driving kick drum and repeating guitar riff leads AC/DC through this classic rock n’ roll drenched anthem. Listen to the quality of the distorted guitar. You should hear and feel the crunch coming through the guitar amp and if you really listen you can hear when the strings are strummed open vs. plucked and muted. It’s subtle but should come through a well-tuned system.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Verse 1
Light Green = Chorus 1
Green = Solo
Light Blue = Solo
Blue = Solo
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 300 – 700 Hz Crunchy Guitar
Orange = 1 kHz – 15 kHz Drums (Attack, Cymbal Sizzle)
Yellow = 200 – 500 Hz Male Vocal
Light Green = 850 – 3000 Hz Guitar/Vocal Layering adds presence
Green = 300 – 700 Hz Main Bagpipe Freq., 1 kHz – 4.5 kHz Bagpipe Overtones
Light Blue = 4.8 kHz Bagpipe Freq spike
Blue = 300 – 860 Hz Guitar Solo
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #8
Don't Wanna Fight - Alabama Shakes
Springy guitars, hard-hitting drums, and a signature squealing vocal entrance that is uniquely Brittany Howard. This track is a little “out there” but it definitely showcases some very unique textures and characteristics. The opening unison guitar riff with a not-so-subtle hint of spring reverb provides plenty of mid-frequency and high-frequency qualities to work with. Then the drums start with a big, fuzzy kick sound and some crackling, brassy guitar mid-tones. Then enter, the female vocal. Brittany Howard is one of today’s most soulful and emotive vocalists. And in this track, she delivers plenty of interesting vocal candies that are sure to showcase the flexibility of your systems.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Intro
Light Green = Chorus
Green = Outro
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 – 500 Hz Guitar with Spring Reverb in 2 kHz – 4 kHz
Orange = Full band, full Spectrum
Yellow = 1.5 kHz, 2.5 kHz, 3.5 kHz, 5 kHz, 8.7 kHz Vocal Squeel leading into the verse
Light Green = 500 – 1200 Hz Layered Vocals
Green = 100 – 450 Hz Bass guitar & Drums
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #9
Hotel California (Live) - Eagles
A chimey 12-string and lead 6-string acoustic guitar open this live rendition of the famous Hotel California. Filled with mids, upper-mids, and plenty of high frequencies, this is one of our favorite system testing tracks. Of course, let’s not forget one the smoothest male vocalists of our time, Mr. Don Henley. What makes this track even more impressive is that it was recorded live. The live aspect adds some unique qualities in the overall harmonic resonance. With the help of a well-tuned system, you can almost close your eyes and imagine you are there, watching one of the great bands of our time live!
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Intro
Light Green = Verse
Green = Chorus
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 – 800 Hz Acoustic Guitar
Orange = 100 – 400 Hz Low Percussion Hits, 800 – 1500 Hz on-beat congo hits, 7 kHz – 15 kHz shaker sizzle
Yellow = Full band, full spectrum
Light Green = 300 – 800 Hz Male Vocal
Green = Full spectrum
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #10
Gravity - John Mayer
Say what you want about John Mayer, this track is one of the most clean and pure recordings out there. Each instrument occupies its own space in the song and they all work together to create an almost weightless quality to juxtapose the track title. Pay special attention to the drums in this one. The great Steve Jordan lightly clips the high-hat throughout while double-tapping the kick drum and giving a firm snare snap with every bar. And underneath it all, a melodic bass line rounding out the low frequencies.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Intro
Light Green = Verse
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 100 – 350 Hz Kick Drum
Orange = 350 – 850 Hz Snare
Yellow = 300 – 850 Hz Guitar
Light Green = 300 – 800 Hz Male Vocal
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #11
I See Fire - Ed Sheeran
Although Ed Sheeran’s quick vibrato and seamless vocal runs shine in the intro of this song, listen for the little Easter egg Cello note that kicks in at 14 seconds. It’s a bit difficult to pinpoint in regular headphones, but a good system should bring that frequency out. From there, pay attention to the acoustic guitar and layered male vocals. Then at 1:47 there’s a cymbal roll into the chorus where piano chords support each downbeat and a shaker part fills out the high frequencies. Oh, and what folk song would be complete without some violin parts? The song really gets big at about 4:00 in. Enjoy!
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Chorus 1
Light Green = Instrumental Break
Green = Chorus Final
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 250 – 1500 Hz Male Voice/Reverb
Orange = 200 – 500 Hz Acoustic Guitar
Yellow = 250 – 2000 Hz Guitar/Violin
Light Green = 250 – 2000 Hz Violins
Green = Full Spectrum, Climax
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #12
Angel - Sarah McLachlan
For a female vocal test, nothing comes close to this song. The reverb drenched Sarah McLachlan sings mellifluously through each word of this song. Her dynamics and inflections, when played through a well-tuned system, will stop you in your tracks and make you hang on every note. And, if you listen closely, you’ll be able to pick out a soft Cello at certain points throughout the song. This is a must have tune for any system testing playlist. There is one quirky side-effect – you’ll likely feel guilted into adopting a dog.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse
Yellow = NA
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 250 – 2000 Hz piano
Orange = 300 – 1000 Hz Female Voice
Yellow = NA
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #13
Summertime – Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald
It’s always a good idea to run some horn sounds through your system for testing. This collaboration with Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald hits you with a piercing trumpet, a smooth female vocal, and the classic, gravely goodness of Louis’ voice. It’ll definitely put your system through the paces.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = 1st Verse
Light Green = 1st Verse
Green = 2nd Verse
Light Blue = 3rd Verse
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 500 – 800 Hz French Horn
Orange = 200 – 700 Hz String Orchestra
Yellow = 300 – 900 Hz Trumpet
Light Green = 100 Hz – 800 Hz Low Brass
Green = 300 – 700 Hz Female Voice
Light Blue = 250 – 550 Hz Male Voice
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #14
Picture – Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow
There’s nothing like a classic duet to compare male vs. female voices in system testing. The contrast between Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow’s voices will give you a great mid-range spectrum to test.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = 1st Verse
Yellow = 2nd Verse
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 100 – 300 Hz Bass Guitar
Orange = 300 – 800 Hz Male Voice
Yellow = 500 – 2000 Hz Female Voice
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #15
IN The air tonight - Phil Collins
An instantly 80’s backing track will pull sounds from your system like no other track can. Then, enter Phil Collins. His vocal track has a really short delay added to it giving it an almost ghostly quality. Listen closely during the first chorus (before the beat kicks in) and you can pick out individual vocal layers and their unique qualities. Then, of course once the drum fill hits at 3:41 it’s all impact from there. Listen to how the bass line follows the drumbeat. A true classic!
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = 1st Chorus
Light Green = 2nd Chorus
Green = 2nd Verse
Light Blue = Drum Fill
Blue = Last Chorus
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 – 500 Hz Drum Machine, Peak at 9 kHz from Sizzle
Orange = 350 – 650 Hz Synth
Yellow = 200 – 600 Hz Male Voice
Light Green = 200 Hz – 2 kHz Stacked Vocals
Green = 300 Hz – 4 kHz Stacked/Effected Vocals “I Remember”
Light Blue = 100 Hz – 1 kHz Drum Fill
Blue = Full Spectrum, Full Band
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #16
Bird On A Wire - Jennifer Warnes
Driving toms and the crisp closing sounds of the high-hats pulse through this track with a background of rich vocal harmonies underneath a strong female vocal. And, pay attention, a saxophone jumps in about halfway through for an extra flavor of woodwind. This track has you covered from low-mids to highs.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = 1st Verse
Yellow = 1st Verse
Light Green = 2:20 mark
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Full Spectrum, Drums, guitar, bass, percussion
Orange = 300 – 900 Hz Female Voice
Yellow = 100 Hz – 4000 kHz Stacked Voices – especially the low end
Light Green = Full Spectrum – full drum kit
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #17
Hide and SEek - Imogen Heap
The great thing about acapella songs are usually found in the silence between words. It’s the breath and the reverberation that bring life and magic into these tracks. This one has all of that and a little something different as well. She uses a vocoder effect to automatically produce vocal harmonies as she is singing which introduces a lot of drama and suspense to the melody. So, listen to the way the harmonies are working together or maybe how they slightly fight each other. And, with a well-tuned system, you should notice those little moments that are happening in the silence between words.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Voice/Vocoder
Orange = Silence/Room Noise
Yellow = Breathe
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 300 – 700 Hz Female Voice
Orange = 300 – 700 Hz Static Artifacts
Yellow = 1.5 kHz – 5 kHz Presence of Breathe
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #18
Hello - Adele
A call for closure of a love lost and all of that emotion and desperation should ring clearly through your system. Adele is a powerhouse among female vocalists, and you can be sure that once the chorus hits, your system should send chills down the spine. Listen to the warmth of the piano and how the vocal delay decays into the corners of the sound field.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Solo Piano
Orange = First Verse
Yellow = Chorus
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 – 500 Hz This is where the piano hangs out for most of the track
Orange = 300 – 1.2 kHz Female Vocal
Yellow = 100 Hz – 2 kHz kick drum on the low end, synth on the higher end, and voice in the middle
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #19
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
From the guttural voice of Mr. Armstrong to the high frequency hitting string orchestra. This classic features a number of instruments from guitar to horns to flutes to strings and drums. But maybe one of the most interesting qualities to listen for in this song is the trailing vibrator of Louis’ voice. He hangs onto it longer than most singers and if you listen closely after each word, you can just hear his voice barely singing the remainder of the note – almost under his breath. If your system can identify that, maybe you’re onto something!
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Silence
Orange = Instrumental
Yellow = Verse 1
Light Green = Bridge
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 100 – 400 Hz This is the silence/room noise beneath the track. You can hear it isolated right at the beginning.
Orange = 100 Hz – 1 kHz Orchestra
Yellow = 250 Hz – 800 Hz Male Voice
Light Green = High-Frequency Peaks at 1.2 kHz, 2.4 kHz, and 6 kHz from Louis’ “S” enunciation
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #20
The Sound of Silence - Disturbed
Disturbed may seem out of place on this list. But, trust us, this song is the exception. Their cover of the Sound of Silence has a cinematic quality from the first soft and low-frequency vocal lines to the triumphant voice-breaking, drum-pounding climax. Listen for the piano lines, string harmonies, timpani blaring, and acoustic guitar’s soft chiming, even in the most prominent sections. From the low frequencies to the highest, Disturbed doesn’t leave any stone unturned as they whisper the sound of silence.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Solo Piano
Orange = Verse 1
Yellow = Chorus
Light Green = Chorus – Cimax
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 300 – 1 kHz This is the range occupied by the piano throughout
Orange = 250 Hz – 700 Hz Male Voice
Yellow = Full spectrum synth, piano, guitar (tinny on high freqs)
Light Green = Frequency peaks at 1.3 kHz, 2.7 kHz from Growling/Gritty Male Voice
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #21
A Change Is Gonna Come - Same Cooke
When it comes to male vocalists, not many can come close to the great Sam Cooke. Listen closely to the upright bass line and how it plays along with the drums. Then you’ll hear what sounds like a flugel- or french horn cutting through the mix with warm tones followed by a brass line pronouncing the arrival of a change that’s gonna come. And, listen closely to the timpani in the back as they add emphasis to the drum and bass line. Of course, don’t forget to pay attention to Sam’s smooth and character-filled voice as he effortlessly flows through this classic.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Intro
Light Green = Intro
Green = Full Song
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 1.3 – 3.1 kHz Violins
Orange = 300 Hz – 1 kHz Cello
Yellow = 100 Hz – 1 kHz Brass & drums
Light Green = 517 Hz French Horn
Green = 600 Hz – 1.5 kHz Male Vocal
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #22
Gaslighting Abbie - Steely Dan
As a group of professional studio musicians, Steely Dan deliver an unmatched level of precision, restraint, and finely blended tonal flavors. The production quality of this track allows you the liberty to pick and choose almost any element to zero in on for system testing. Want to focus on lows? The bass track is clear, poppy, and perfectly synced with the kick drum. Looking to the mids? You’ll find there is no shortage in this song with horns, reed instruments, guitar, vocals, and a crisp and punchy snare throughout. Or, maybe you need to hear clarity in the high end. The guitar tone flies pretty high in the frequency spectrum right alongside the constant sizzle of high-hat throughout. This track has it all – plus a great male vocal track.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse
Yellow = NA
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Full Spectrum, bass, and drum reach the highest dBs however, the rest of the spectrum is occupied with great presence from guitar, synth, hi-hat, and snare. This mix is so consistent across the board.
Orange = 350 Hz – 600 Hz Male Vocal
Yellow = NA
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #23
The Girl in the other room - diana krall
From a subtle tremolo on the opening guitar line to the light and tasteful jazz kit – this track leaves plenty of breathing room to easily identify different frequency ranges. But the star of this track is the female vocal. The presence of the vocal track feels as if Diana Krall is the girl in the other room and you are right there beside her. Listen closely for the high end as her voice delay decays into what feels like a large empty tunnel. The drums also bring plenty of crispy high cymbal work to latch onto.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse
Yellow = Verse
Light Green = Solo
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 – 500 Hz Guitar
Orange = 300 Hz – 1 kHz Female Vocal
Yellow =
100 – 500 Hz bass guitar, kick & Snare
3 kHz – 10 kHz cymbals sizzle
Light Green = 1 kHz Piano
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #24
Thunderstruck - AC/DC
The steady beat of the kick drum keeps pace and the constant drone of the bass drives you right through the low frequencies of this track. Once the snare kicks in, it’s like a punch to the face. That’s when you know you’ve been thunder struck.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Intro
Light Green = Verse 2
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 Hz – 13 kHz Guitar and Cymbals maintain a pretty steady presence throughout the frequency spectrum. Listen to the attack and string noise of the guitar in the high range and the cymbal sizzle in the upper high range.
Orange = 700 Hz – 1 kHz Background Vocal “Ahahahahahahahah”s
Yellow = 100 – 400 Hz kick drum and “Thunder” chant
Light Green = 500 – 700 Hz Male Vocal
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #25
Red Lights - Tiesto
The opening section of this song features the mid-range frequencies in guitar and male vocal. Use that as your opportunity to dial in the mids. Then there is a pretty intense dynamic build and the beat drops around 1:24. This is your chance to get a good feel for the low frequencies with a four on the floor punchy kick drum. You can also listen to the upper-mids and highs in the synthesizer and clap track.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse 1
Yellow = Verse 1
Light Green = Post Chorus Build
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 Hz – 600 Hz Guitar
Orange =
100 Hz – 250 Hz Kick Drum
450 Hz – 650 Hz Male Vocal
1.2 kHz Snaps
Yellow =
100 – 350 Hz Bass Guitar
2 kHz Claps
Light Green = Full-spectrum electronic build
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #26
Royals - Lorde
Vocals and a beat – it seems so simple. But the complexity of this track is great for system tuning. Very rarely does a track feature low frequency reverberation in such an exposed manner. But, since there aren’t any other elements getting in the way, pay close attention to how the reverb trails off on the low frequency kick. And the snaps – they’re crispy and drenched in reverb. It’s a high frequency gold mine.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse 1
Yellow = Verse 1
Light Green = Post Chorus Build
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 Hz – 600 Hz Guitar
Orange =
100 Hz – 250 Hz Kick Drum
450 Hz – 650 Hz Male Vocal
1.2 kHz Snaps
Yellow =
100 – 350 Hz Bass Guitar
2 kHz Claps
Light Green = Full-spectrum electronic build
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #27
Wake Me Up – Avicii
The dynamic build from the start of this track until the beat drops will surely showcase your systems’ flexibility. It starts bare, with an exposed acoustic guitar and male vocal for plenty of mid-range listening. Then, the four on the floor kick pushes you right up to a crescendoing mix of electronic drum sounds and synthesizers for upper-mid and high range listening. Once you get to the beat drop, pay close attention to the high-end. Every off-beat has a sizzling synth sound that should shine through your system.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse 1
Yellow = Chorus 1
Light Green = Post Chorus
Green = Instrumental Break
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = 200 Hz – 600 Hz Acoustic Guitar
Orange = 450 Hz – 850 Hz Male Vocal
Yellow =
100 – 350 Hz Bass Guitar & Kick Drum
Light Green = Full-spectrum synth sweep
Green =
100 Hz – 400 Hz 4 on the floor kick drum
1 kHz – 10 kHz Synthesizer
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #28
Smooth – Santana, Rob Thomas
You might think a Santana/Rob Thomas duo would lead you to listen to guitar and vocals. But, really, when tuning a system, this track offers way more value. The real flavor nuggets lye in the Latin percussion track. Shakers and washboard fill the high-end, while congas sit nicely in the middle. And, when the chorus kicks in, the wurly piano adds great upper-mid and high frequency tones. Then there’s the brass line and bass line throughout. This song has a little bit of everything.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse 1
Yellow = Chorus 1
Light Green = Solo
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Full Spectrum
Guitar in the 600 Hz – 1 kHz range
Male Vocals in the 400 Hz – 800 Hz range
Latin Percussion in the 1 kHz – 6 kHz range
Orange = Male Vocals in the 400 Hz – 800 Hz range
Yellow = Full Spectrum
Light Green = Guitar in the 600 Hz – 1 kHz range
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #29
Becoming Insane – Infected Mushroom
Over seven minutes of electronic energy to send your system pulsing down a different path. The constantly driving kick sound will give you a good indication of your low end impact and the reoccurring acoustic theme gives a little insight into your low-mid range. Several times throughout the track you’ll also hear some mid to upper-mid frequency sweeps.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse 1
Yellow = 3:20
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Guitar: 600 Hz – 1 kHz
Orange =
Kick Drum: 100 Hz – 400 Hz
Electronic Synth: 1 kHz – 10 kHz
Yellow = Frequency Sweep: 1 kHz – 8 kHz
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #30
Lebanese Blonde – Thievery Corporation
The backbone of this track is definitely the drum track. From high-hat sizzle to punchy bark of the snare drum, your mid-range and higher frequencies are covered. Another thing to note is the stereo imaging in this track. The mix is done in such a way that you can easily imagine the location of each instrument in the sound field. So rather than each sound stacked on top of each other blaring into both of your ears, every instrument is occupying a different location in space.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Intro
Light Green = Verse 1
Green = Verse 2
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Sitar: 550 Hz – 860 Hz
Orange = Bass Guitar: 100 Hz – 450 Hz
Yellow = Drums: Full Spectrum – 2 kHz – 10 kHz really fills out
Light Green = Female Voice: 517 Hz – 1.3 kHz
Green = Brass Horns: 1 kHz – 2 kHz
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #31
LOS – Rammstein
Like the track before, this mix is set up for great stereo imagery. The acoustic guitar opens up from the right side of the sound field. Then the kick drum hits front and center. You can imagine all of these instruments being played in the same room together and where each of them might be positioned in relationship to you, the listener.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse 1
Yellow = Verse 2
Light Green = Calm Instrumental Break
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Acoustic Guitar: 300 Hz – 600 Hz
Orange = Kick Drum: 100 Hz – 400 Hz
Yellow = Full Spectrum
Light Green = Background Synth: 1 kHz – 10 kHz
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #32
Money – Pink Floyd
From the sound of the cash register going left to right in the beginning all the way through, this track is like a conversation of sounds back and forth. You’ve got guitar stating an idea over here then answered by keyboard over there. The entire conversation is taking place over-top a tightly made bed of bass and drum goodness.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Intro
Light Green = Verse 1
Green = Solo
Light Blue = Solo
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Cash Register: 1 kHz – 10 kHz
Orange = Guitar & Bass: 100 Hz – 1 kHz
Yellow = Full Spectrum
Light Green = Male Vocals: 345 Hz – 700 Hz
Green = Saxophone: 2 kHz – 4 kHz
Light Blue = Electric Guitar: 900 Hz – 4 kHz
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #33
Umasha – Mickey Hart
A gooey bass line fills out the bottom end of this track covering and entire octave in one, constantly repeating riff. This is a good one to turn up for an AC Mains test.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Intro
Yellow = Chorus
Light Green = Solo
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Vocals: 450 Hz – 2 kHz
Orange = Full Band: Full Spectrum
Yellow = Percussion (Pops & Clicks): 4 kHz – 10 kHz
Light Green = Xylophone: 500 Hz – 700 Hz
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #34
Reasons Why – Nickel Creek
The acoustic in this song is raw. You can hear the progression of chords to the left accompanied by n rhythmic pattern strummed over a muted mandolin in the right. The sounds of the pick (or finger) hitting the strings is as clear as if it was happening right beside you.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Verse
Yellow = Chorus
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Acoustic Bass & Guitar: 100 Hz – 700 Hz
Orange = Female Vocal: 800 Hz – 1.2 kHz
Yellow = Vocals Harmonized: Full Spectrum Boost
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #35
Canon in D Major – Johann Pachelbel, Music Lab Collective
Here’s a classic! A quiet piano plays a familiar melody to start. As the song builds, the pianist adds more left hand notes and begins to hit each key harder and harder building up to the emotive climax around the 3:00 minute mark.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = Intro
Orange = Main Melody
Yellow = NA
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red = Cello: 100 Hz – 700 Hz
Orange = Full Orchestra: 1.6 kHz – 3.5 kHz
Yellow = NA
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
SYSTEM TESTING TRACK #36
Die Walkure, WWV 86B
This robust orchestral tune hits with brass intensity right off the bat. With bursts of percussion and trilling woodwind falls halfway through, you’re sure to hear the dynamic peaks of your system belting out.
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Red = No Percussion
Orange = With Percussion
Yellow = NA
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Red =
Brass instruments: 200 Hz – 2 kHz
String instruments: 3 kHz – 15 kHz
Orange = Full Orchestra: Full Spectrum
Yellow = NA
Light Green = NA
Green = NA
Light Blue = NA
Blue = NA
Purple = NA
We would love to hear your favorite audio system testing tracks! Leave them in the comments below or reach out to us on our social media channels and we might even feature your tracks in a special LEA playlist!