Simple Minds are a great band to test headphones to. They have been around since the 70’s and have tried many different types of sound, experimentation in studio, and supplied various types of sound to test to. different types of echo, reverb, bright, dark, soundstage of various widths, compression, bass, treble, midrange, vocal. as well as the latest recording technics in the studio throughout the decades and years.
They use a lot of synths, but also use conventional drums, bass, guitar. They have done edm, rock, pop and folk. They are the greatest underestimated band that exists. I think they are on U2’s level. but only recieve recognition for a handful of songs, “Dont you forget about me” chiefly among them, and sometimes only.
This is my Simple Minds test playlist. Most remastered ripped from CD in WAV format except Magic, Summer, Utopia which are downloaded from HDtracks at 24 bit / 44 khz
Changling - proto synth driven art rock dance 1979
Today i died again - soundstage, reverb, dark, experimental 1980
Themes for great cities - soundstage, layered intrumental 1981
New Gold Dream - Dark, echo, reverb. hard to get right in a headphone 1982
Waterfront extended - good for bass 1984
Up on the Catwalk Extended - differnt volumes and soundstage. dynamic range 1984
Bass Line - instrumental 1984
Brass Band in african chimes - intrumental, bass, deep low drums 1984
Once upon a time - treble, soundstage 1985
Street fighting years - more conventional instruments, folk 1989
Belfast child - folk song, vocal test 1989
Real Life - soundstage, rock 1991
Night Music - Rock rich full sound 1995
War Babies - very electronic, using older 70’s type synths 1998
Waterfront (Union Jack remix) - EDM test 1998
Hello - Large soundstage, layered 1999
Sleeping Girl - Bass test, pop 2002
Spaceface - Rock pop, dynamic range 2002
Underneath the Ice - rock soundstage 2005
Light Travels - compression hard to get right in a headphone 2009
Honest Town - newer synths, reimagining of previous albums in 80’s 2014
Midnight Walking - newer synths, reimagining of previous albums in 80’s 2014
Magic - latest album, high bitrate, layered, soundstage 2018
Summer - latest album, high bitrate, layered, soundstage 2018
Utopia - latest album, high bitrate, volume, layered, soundstage 2018
If I wish to test more I have:
Tears for Fears - Songs from the big chair at 96/24. The version from HDtracks also has the Steven Wilson 2014 remix of the album. much better sound and mix of the original album.
Coldplay - X and Z in 192/24.
U2 - Songs of experience 96/24.
Radiohead - Moon shaped pool - 48/24
Audiophile Hi-Res System Test from HDtracks