Put your audio system to the test: discover what to listen for with the Garvan playlist
Vocals, acoustic instruments, electronic music and film scores: a musical journey to help you get to know your audio system better.
You have chosen your audio system and had it installed. Now comes the moment you have been waiting for: listening to music. But which tracks should you choose to discover its qualities?
This playlist to test your audio system, selected by Garvan Acoustic and available on Tidal, brings together recordings from different genres and eras. The selection is designed to put an audio system through its paces and encourage more attentive listening: from vocal presence to bass depth, instrumental detail and the perception of space.
The embedded player offers 30-second previews. To listen to the full tracks, open the playlist on Tidal.
Listen to the full playlist on TidalStart with the vocals
With “Birds” by Dominique Fils-Aimé and “The Hunter” by Jennifer Warnes, focus your attention on the voice.
Can you follow its nuances? How does it stand out from the accompaniment? Listen to the breaths, changes in intensity and the relationship between the singing and the other sounds. A sense of presence also comes from small details, not just volume.
Listen to the space between the instruments
Move on to “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa and try to follow the position of individual sounds. Can you hear them in different places? Which seem closer, and which seem further away?
With “Keith Don’t Go (Live)” by Nils Lofgren, turn your attention to the guitar, the attack of the strings and the atmosphere of the live recording.
The aim is to discover how much you can distinguish and follow in the music. If you are listening on a stereo system, also pay attention to how the sounds are spread between the two speakers.
Bass is about more than power
With “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson and “Royals” by Lorde, listen to the relationship between rhythm, low frequencies and vocals.
Can you follow the bass without losing the other elements of the track? Do the notes remain distinct? Pay attention to both impact and clarity: engaging bass can have energy while keeping the rest of the music clear.
Follow the crescendo
With “Why Do We Fall?” by Hans Zimmer, pay attention to how your listening experience changes as the track builds in intensity.
Can you still distinguish the different elements in the fuller passages? Follow the crescendo at a comfortable volume: it is an opportunity to hear how the system reproduces the track’s progression and complexity.
Take time to listen
A few simple steps will help you get started:
- Choose a comfortable volume, without aiming for maximum impact straight away.
- Listen from your usual position, giving the music a few minutes of your undivided attention.
- Focus on one element at a time: first the voice, then the bass, instruments and space.
- Add a track you know well to your listening session: familiarity can help you pick up new nuances.
The result depends on the entire system, the room and the recording. Speaker placement and room acoustics also contribute to what you hear.
The playlist is a listening guide. For advice on configuration, calibration and integrating the system into your space, your installer is the person to consult about getting the best from your audio system.
Rediscover your music
Whether you have just chosen a Garvan system or want to rediscover the one you use every day, take a few minutes to focus on the music. You may notice details you have never picked up before.
Open the playlist on Tidal
