Other than calibration tones? Not really. It's a personal thing after that.

I tend to use Chesky SACD's. The "Ultimate Demonstration Disc II" is a favorite.

I put together a CD for myself, mostly for listening to new monitors that I come across. It has everything from great to ugly. I find the really horrible stuff to be more revealing. The sales guys look at me a little strange though when I pop out their Steely Dan CD and play the most God awful tracks you ever heard.

That awesome Michael, what a great idea. I would love to see the look on their eyes. Especially if you put something in with horrible ripping your face off freq. Only you know what you are listening for and for good reason! You turn to the sales guy and say "Oh ya! very smooth highs"

Michael Fossenkemper, post: 371421 wrote: The sales guys look at me a little strange though when I pop out their Steely Dan CD and play the most God awful tracks you ever heard.

I do the same thing basically, I just haven't gotten around to putting it all on one disk. Whenever I'm mixing I always take breaks (also let's your ears/mind readjust, because man does it ever start playing tricks on you sometimes!) and listen to stuff that is a reference for "good" (similar genre always, often something the band suggested they like elements of) and I'll also listen to something I consider bad, preferably very bad! Refreshes the mind and reminds you what your monitors and room are doing to alter the audio. It's not that I'm really looking for anything in particular to copy and/or avoid, just reference points (especially since my system "seems" to be lacking in HF generally, it's very easy to over-hype the top end).