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

Kind of Blue

Miles Davis's 1959 Columbia recording — an audiophile reference for decades.

2

Getz/Gilberto

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

3

Time Out

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

4

Way Out West

Sonny Rollins's 1957 Contemporary recording — audiophile sax-trio clarity.

5

We Get Requests

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

6

Ella and Louis

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong's 1956 Verve duet — exquisite vocal recording.

7

Sunday at the Village Vanguard

Bill Evans Trio's 1961 live recording — astonishing intimacy and room sound.

8

At the Pershing

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

9

Soulville

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

10

Waltz for Debby

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

11

Ellington at Newport

Duke Ellington's 1956 live concert — huge ensemble dynamics for testing speakers.

12

The Köln Concert

Keith Jarrett's 1975 ECM solo piano — legendary piano tone.

13

Exclusively for My Friends

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