What is the best jazz album to test a hi-fi or vinyl setup?

Jazz was made for serious listening. These albums are audiophile favorites — exceptional recordings that reveal new details through quality speakers, headphones, or vinyl. Which record sounds best on your system?

1. 1
   Kind of Blue

   Miles Davis's 1959 Columbia recording — an audiophile reference for decades.
2. 2
   Getz/Gilberto

   The 1964 Verve bossa nova classic — a recording with legendary clarity and depth.
3. 3
   Time Out

   Dave Brubeck's 1959 album — crisp recording that reveals every cymbal and piano nuance.
4. 4
   Way Out West

   Sonny Rollins's 1957 Contemporary recording — audiophile sax-trio clarity.
5. 5
   We Get Requests

   Oscar Peterson Trio's 1964 Verve recording — a standard demo disc for piano trios.
6. 6
   Ella and Louis

   Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong's 1956 Verve duet — exquisite vocal recording.
7. 7
   Sunday at the Village Vanguard

   Bill Evans Trio's 1961 live recording — astonishing intimacy and room sound.
8. 8
   At the Pershing

   Ahmad Jamal's 1958 Chicago live album — a legendary audiophile test disc.
9. 9
   Soulville

   Ben Webster's 1957 Verve album — warm, rich tenor tone captured perfectly.
10. 10
    Waltz for Debby

    Bill Evans Trio's 1961 Village Vanguard set — a touchstone of intimate live recording.
11. 11
    Ellington at Newport

    Duke Ellington's 1956 live concert — huge ensemble dynamics for testing speakers.
12. 12
    The Köln Concert

    Keith Jarrett's 1975 ECM solo piano — legendary piano tone.
13. 13
    Exclusively for My Friends

    Oscar Peterson's 1963-68 MPS recordings — audiophile-grade piano trio sessions.