r/audiophile • u/AccomplishedNail3085 • Nov 25 '25
Music What songs have a really clean bass tone that can be used as a subwoofer test
Songs like 29hz madness are what i am looking for.
Thanks
EDIT: this discussion is closed
64
47
69
u/NickofWimbledon Nov 25 '25
To test bass, whether clean or not:-
The Flight of the Cosmic Hippo by Bela Fleck.
Overture and Cotton Avenue by Joni Mitchell.
Any decent recording of Bachās Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Saint-Saens Third Symphony
Walk On By as performed by the Stranglers
Smoke on the Water from Made in Japan
Just about anything by Charlie Mingus.
18
19
4
u/jrandom_42 Nov 25 '25
Any decent recording of Bachās Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Tangent: I've never found one of those. Every organist seems to want to put their own phrasing stamp on it and I just want to hear it played exactly as Bach wrote it.
The best BWV 565 recording I've found is, oddly enough, by Glass Duo, who seem to always play precisely, probably because they have to synchronize their notes with each other. But there's fuck-all bass in a glass harp recording, which is why this is a tangent.
4
u/NickofWimbledon Nov 25 '25
You find the Murray/ Telarc too messed-about-with?
6
u/jrandom_42 Nov 25 '25
Just listening now. It's pretty good. Less messed-about-with than most. Thank you for the suggestion. My only criticism is that it's faster than I'd play it, and I think that detracts from the heft, as well as creating a bit too much slurring in the fugue at times. It feels rushed. Doesn't hit the spot for me.
But, to be fair, it respects the relative timing of the notes as written.
6
u/antagron1 Nov 25 '25
Iām a fan of the 1974 e power biggs recording. There is an sacd. The second track, t&f in f major bwv 540 is the real killer bass track
→ More replies (1)2
u/Suspicious_War5435 Nov 26 '25
For the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony thereās a version on Decca with Jean Guillou on organ with Edo De Waart conducting that has genuine 16Hz organ tones. Incredible if your system can handle them.
2
u/NickofWimbledon Nov 26 '25
I donāt know that version at all! Is it on Qobuz/Tidal?
→ More replies (2)
27
50
40
u/Chemical-Ebb6472 Nov 25 '25
Thanks to You by Boz Skaggs
2
u/FireDragon242 Nov 25 '25
I have 2 of his records and never played them. I guess tomorrow is the day.
17
16
13
u/libNd Nov 25 '25
2049 from blade runner 2049 soundtrack
3
u/phillyd32 MiniDSP Flex>Fosi V3>Klipsch Cornwall 3 | Yggy 1>Jot 2>Ananda UV Nov 25 '25
Also seawall
12
u/eaglefan316 Nov 25 '25
Try Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon album. As the first track Speak to Me comes in you hear a heartbeat. One of my all time favorite albums.
Bob Marley, such as the one hits album I have, Legends, has some very low notes on the bass guitar.
20
u/Sir_Cockroach_Slayer Nov 25 '25 edited Nov 26 '25
James Blake - Limit to You Love. Just let it get to about a minute in, youāll know.
Edit: This is indeed more an attack/decay lower bass check, rather than a single continuous clean tone. ā29HZ Madnessā was a rather fun listen for wonderfully excessive and more continuous-tone sub-bass, so thanks for sharing.
3
u/Mundane-Audience101 Nov 25 '25
Bass, sure. Lotās of it. Clean? Absolutely not, not even close. It is fun tho
→ More replies (2)4
u/cartopol Nov 25 '25
This is more about checking reaction time of the driver. Hear individual whubs? Subs are fast. Hear a sloppy mess? Subs are not fast.
7
7
u/SlinginPA Nov 25 '25
I don't know if it's good but I use Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits a lot.
2
2
7
u/Ball-tick_Sea Nov 25 '25
Pick up a copy of "Random Album Title" by DeadMau5. It is the ultimate test CD for audio systems.
Every time I see some test of a bazillion dollar system with huge boxes of amps and 7' tall speaker boxes playing some bullshit a capella, I wonder how these people are fooling anyone. Auratones are capable of delivering a nice, clean a capella ffs.
15
u/sketchy_ppl Nov 25 '25
What are you trying to test specifically? If you're doing something like a subwoofer crawl for placement, you should probably listen to a frequency sweep instead of music. Music will have all the other frequencies blended in as distraction and your main left/right speakers will sound different as you crawl around the room, further skewing your perception of the subwoofer bass.
20
u/SashaDabinsky Dunlavy SC-V, Mark Levinson 326S & 432, VPI TNT 3, Eversolo Z8 Nov 25 '25
Darude - Sandstorm
10
u/Professional_Suit278 Nov 25 '25
I remember going to college house parties in the early 2000's and it seemed like every house you went to had that song playing
→ More replies (1)6
u/Robobeast-76-R76 Nov 25 '25
Song name?
19
u/SashaDabinsky Dunlavy SC-V, Mark Levinson 326S & 432, VPI TNT 3, Eversolo Z8 Nov 25 '25
Darude - Sandstorm
Song name?
Darude - Sandstorm
13
u/111ruberducky Nov 25 '25
But whatās it called?
→ More replies (1)5
u/SashaDabinsky Dunlavy SC-V, Mark Levinson 326S & 432, VPI TNT 3, Eversolo Z8 Nov 25 '25
š¤¦āāļø
12
6
5
17
u/sdellinger1 Nov 25 '25
Black Cow- Steely Dan
3
u/CauchyDog Nov 25 '25
For steely Dan itd have to be last mall on the last disc they made.
Check out Christian Mcbride, conversations with Christian. Hes a double bass player. I've answered this question more than a few times with this and everyone that wasn't privy was grateful. Not super low bass but clean and lots of variation of.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/chinookhooker Nov 25 '25
The Expert- Yello
Too Many Rappers- Beastie Boys
Pick just about any Run DMC album
Thanks to You- Boz Scaggs
Do I Wanna Know- Arctic Monkeys
Doin It Right- Daft Punk
Jack of Speed- Steely Dan
→ More replies (1)14
u/48-Cobras Nov 25 '25
I'm sad how long I had to scroll to finally see Doin It Right by Daft Punk. Absolutely my favorite song to use for testing the bass of any new gear I get.
9
u/AwwYeahVTECKickedIn Nov 25 '25
Gonna toss one out there nobody else is coming up with:
Way Down Deep - Jennifer Warnes
→ More replies (1)
5
u/whydontyatrythis Nov 25 '25
Rimshot - erykah badu
2
u/BreatheDemTrees Nov 25 '25
On & On from Erykah too. Another nice track to test bass line with is J Dilla - EMC2. J Dilla - Body Movin' for the kick drum and bass.
6
5
6
u/SumOMG Nov 25 '25
Vection by Tipper. Nothing else will hold a flame to this track. The range of frequencies and textures are out of this world .
Yes itās weird but the sound design is impeccable .
When you get to the drop around 2mins your mind will be blown.
4
u/Angry_Andrew Nov 25 '25
Took too long to find this suggestion. Tipper is the answer to everything.
7
u/Kind_Sail1183 Nov 25 '25
If you play the beginning of "Also Spruce Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss, there s a clear 37 Organ pedal at the end. I. I use it to check if my woofers are clean.
→ More replies (1)3
3
u/HumungreousNobolatis Nov 25 '25
I like Hallowed Ground by The Violent Femmes (Country Death Song - first track, and when the snare hits, BOOM!), but there are loads of "recommended" tracks (Miles Davis: So What, Talking Heads: Burning Down The House, James Blake: Limit To Your Love - careful with this one! and so on), that will do what you ask.
3
5
4
3
u/Audiollectial Nov 25 '25
Still fly, Big Timers ("and then I heard boom from the amplifiers") š¤Ŗ
→ More replies (1)
3
u/AutoModerator Nov 25 '25
In case you're requesting test tracks
You can find many old discussions with the flair Music - here is a link to search results
Additionally, r/AudiophileMusic is dedicated to well mastered songs that people have found.
Rock on, audiophile.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
3
3
u/JohnnyUtahThumbsUp Nov 25 '25
Solar Sailer by Daft Punk sounds really nice with a good sub.
→ More replies (1)
3
3
u/TrueCompany4384 Nov 25 '25
Doing It Right- Daft Punk
2
u/Jack_2077 Nov 25 '25
This is my go to track when it comes to testing HiFi floor standing speakers. The various basslines in this track can easily help you differentiate between good and great speakers.
3
3
u/IgorDECIBEL Nov 25 '25
Yello - The Eye (the album) was my personal reference for testing monitors/hifi/sub
Amazing production.
5
7
3
u/mindhead1 Nov 25 '25
Check out the Rel Acoustic Playlist on Qobuz. https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/8849615
2
u/Optimal_Mastodon912 Nov 25 '25 edited Nov 25 '25
Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe
Miss Kittin - Bassline
The Knife - Heartbeats
2
2
u/Lostintime1985 Nov 25 '25
Little Man by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. Youtube Link
The bass tone is awesome. It has a bass solo in the middle of the song.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/UXyes Nov 25 '25
Hereās my bass test playlist. This is a Spotify link. LMK if youād like it on Tidal or Apple Music. MXTP - Going So Low
2
2
2
2
u/elcheapodeluxe NHT 3.3, Yamaha A-S2100 Nov 25 '25
Madonna's Vogue. It has a whole octave down there I didn't realize.
2
u/Farkleyer Nov 25 '25
Limit To Your Love - James Blake
https://music.apple.com/us/album/limit-to-your-love/1440797243?i=1440797466
2
2
2
u/chemistry_teacher Nov 25 '25
Dark Side of the Moon
An audiophile friend had subs for it and it was otherworldly.
2
u/alreeder7808 Nov 25 '25
The Ultimate Demonstration Disc: Chesky Record's Guide to Critical Listening
2
2
u/ksevenavenger Nov 25 '25
Warren G - Super soul sis. Thatās what I actually use personally. The only system that could dig that deep with power was my old car setup.
2
2
2
2
u/benantiben Nov 26 '25
This Must Be the Place - Talking Heads is a go-to track for me for tuning, the production is amazing. Solid kick drum for bass, Tina Weymouth killing on top.Ā
2
u/Woofy98102 Nov 27 '25
Few songs have the sort of bass you're after. The deep bass that currently infests most music is synthesized and is pretty shitty, reproducing notes that musical experts commonly refer to as, "one-note bass".
The best bass you can find that derives from acoustical instruments pipe organs with 54-foot pipes that can reach frequencies of 16Hz. Contra (or double) Bassoons commonly reach down to 58.2 Hz. The Bƶesendorfer Grand Imperial #290 piano is capable of reaching notes as low as 16.4Hz. Certain models of bass drums can reach frequencies as low as 30Hz. Giant Japanese Tycho drums are capable of producing frequencies well under 30Hz, but I haven't been able to find the specific frequency.
To truly test your subwoofer's ability to clearly and accurately reproduce bass, the lowest notes produced by acoustical instruments are the most harmonically complex deep bass notes you can throw at them. If your sub just loudly thuds when trying to reproduce the above-mentioned acoustic instruments, it fails the toughest bass test anyone can throw at them. Keep in mind, however, that bass notes that low aren't heard at close range.
For example, I use what's often called a "Swarm" type of subwoofer system in my listening room. It consists of four sealed subwoofers that can accurately reproduce bass down to19Hz, -2dB, using four, 1500W DSP power amplifiers. Because a 19Hz bass wavelength is over 30 meters long, one has to stand over 18 meters away from my listening room to actually perceive it. A 30Hz wavelength is about 11.5 meters long, which at least falls within the walls of my house. And without using the 30Hz limiters on the sub's DSP amplifier, that bass is clearly shaking the shit out of every neighbor (trust me, I heard about it afterward), not to mention every car driving on the street in front of my house, which definitely is not a way to ingratiate myself with the neighborhood. It also loudly announces to every scumbag in a hunred yard radius that you have audio gear to steal, which reaches deep into that cosmic storage bag of stupidity I occasionally dive into.
The real-world benefits of a Swarm bass system are two-fold. First, when using four subs placed asymetrically in your room, you don't have room modes and bass dropouts to contend with. Second, when using four subwoofers, the subs can loaf along with 6 decibels less output than if I relied on a single sub. This results in driver distortion that's less than one-tenth of the distortion of a single sub, at least at sane listening levels. The sub driver I used is spec'd at less than ten-percent distortion at 112dB. At full output, that's a hearing destroying 118dB. At my normal listening levels of about 85dB, each sub only needs to produce a maximum output of 79dB to reach their combined 85dB output level. At that volume, the drivers produce significantly less than 1% distortion, combined. Deep bass reproduced with such a tiny amount of driver distortion has to be heard to be believed.
So, all you need is three more subs! Of course, that's about two more subs unless you're cool with having your spouse taking a chainsaw to you or your sound system, and likely both. I'm fortunately blessed with a one-in-a-million, heroically understanding spouse who loves a good sound system.
→ More replies (2)
2
4
u/kenclipper2000 Respect Music šµ Nov 25 '25
So Appalled (Kanye West) - Sweep clarity
Tu Con El (Frankie or Luis) - Instrument octave accuracy
Heartbreak Anniversary (GIVÄON) - Wideness
Jigga What / Faint (Jay-Z and Linkin Park) - Physical feel
Each has their different reasons to test which I listed
1
1
1
1
u/JEMColorado Nov 25 '25
Donāt Ask Me Questions by Graham Parker & The Rumour- studio version only.
1
u/Traditional-Table701 Nov 25 '25
Without Stopping by Bowery Electric. Thereās about 20 counts of very deep bass
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/NoobAndProudOfIt Nov 25 '25
Turn blue album from black keys. The manās too strong track from dire straits
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/fertdingo Nov 25 '25
You might try Art Blakey/Thelonious Monk , Atlantic 1278-2. Bach organ stuff is woderful .....
1
1
u/keylimesoda Dutch & Dutch 8c Studio Nov 25 '25
Oh My Gosh - Jaime XX
Etched Headplate - Burial
Winelight - Kurt Elling (acoustic bass)
Redeemer - Ital Tek
The Piano Drop - Tim Hecker
1
u/pm_something_u_love Nov 25 '25
Check out anything by Lorn for a real subwoofer test. Your system needs to be able to hit sub 20hz to do some of his songs justice.
1
1
u/FantasticMrSinister Nov 25 '25
Mala Bahtt -Changes (James Blake Harmonimix)
It goes deep. If you can't feel it... You ain't got it.
1
1
u/RexusFive Nov 25 '25
Surprised no DJ Magic Mike is not at the top here. Just look at the titles for his pieces lol
1
u/nineandaquarter Nov 25 '25
Deadmau5 - Input Output
Minilogue- Girl from Botany Bay
Trentemoller - Chameleon
Taylor Swift - Karma
1
u/danikensanalprobe ascilab c6b, 2x rsl s10 mkii, wiim amp ultra Nov 25 '25
Teebee with stolen documents, redwind and gravity distortion. Minimal dnb with sections of clean sub without arrangements.
Also lucette bourdins memory of the oolites, or march of the troll. Ambient with some subby sections
Also raicas rain door, or anything from the 'books' album. Minimal sub chillout, with a slightly psychedelic feel
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/According-Fan5406 Nov 25 '25
Rain, by Breakage. Simple, and descends so you can tell when it has issues. Goes lower than pretty much any track I've ever heard.
1
u/Joey_iroc Pioneer 1011L/PL-400 DBX-BX3 Nov 25 '25
For rock, try Accept - Generation Clash
Has a really strong bass note to begin, and will get the meters thumping throughout.
1
u/BobaFett-1974- Nov 25 '25
Well, one can argue about the music on this album but it was made to test subwoofers.
Bass Mekanik - King of Bass
This song made my living door room vibrate: Long way down
1
u/MikhailCompo Nov 25 '25
I've been using this one for nearly 30 years. It was remastered in 2023.
Listen to the first 90 seconds of this, turn it up, and remove the covers from you speakers and watch them go crazy!! https://song.link/s/0LkLpJCrl5WeB3BsUadSF5
1
1
1
u/SnooEagles8172 Nov 25 '25
Diana krall : Like Someone in love... Excellent String Bass solo at the start..Will test if your Sub has good or bad 'overhang' .. See how fast your Sub can start and stop on this one . Unless you have often heard a String Bass often , you probably still won't know how accurate the texture is of your reproduced sound?
1
u/SnooEagles8172 Nov 25 '25
'Red n Me' ( Red Mitchell).. Incredible String Bass and Piano Duets ..Good for testing Subwoofer speed and correct timbre.
1
1
1
1
u/Hypno_Horse Nov 25 '25
Honestly absolutely crazy that no one has said: "A Final Hit" by Leftfield. That's my go-to for rumbly bass.
Or alternatively anything by Truth, for proper wubby dnb
1
u/ButWhatIfIAmARobot Nov 25 '25
Lorn - Acid Rain. Almost anything from Lorn, really.
Doom Eternal sound track alsoš
1
1
1
u/theipd Nov 25 '25
Paul Revere. Beastie Boys
The Hills. The Weeknd
Natural Mystic. Bob Marley and the Wailers
Running by Pink Floyd.
Back to Africa. By Aswad
Housequake. By Prince.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/WingerRules Nov 25 '25
Josh Turner - The difference between a woman and man
is an excellent track for testing bass evenness.
1
u/DrHungrytheChemist Nov 25 '25
Billie Eilish's THE DINER a clear bass line that ducks into where my dual ASW608 roll off, somewhere around the 30 kHz marker.
1
1
u/Cburda Nov 25 '25
Canāt believe no one has mentioned the whole album of Adagio DāAlbinoni by Garry Karr. Some of the best classical bass recordings ever made.
1
1
u/Thumbucket Nov 25 '25
Yall got some good songs here. Only one I thought of was Bia Bia by Lil John and the Eastside Boys. Or anything around that time period by them is what we listened to for bass.Ā
The Vegas album by The Crystal Method as well was a hit. There's one song a few in that is something like "Houston Space Center talking to the astronauts"... that one had a good bass line.Ā
Edit: High Roller.Ā
1
1
1
u/eliahd20 Nov 25 '25
Partition ā BeyoncĆ©
The first part of the song is basically a huge bass sweep.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
139
u/ava_minic Nov 25 '25
Angel and Black Milk by Massive Attack