A question we’re often asked at Audio T Swansea is if the music we play when we demonstrate equipment is "special". The undisguised notion being; "Are you using some trick, extra-high fidelity recording to show off your gear that I can't access?" The answer is both yes and no. Yes – these are recordings with high production values, and no – it's all commercially available music you can buy or rent via streaming services a la Tidal/Amazon Music/etc.

We have our favourites of course, old reliables that sound decent on just about anything – that killer Seasick Steve LP, or Melody Gardot if I'm showing off a turntable. Royal Blood's eponymous first album, is a recording that has oodles of weight and power; it sounds better and better the more we move up the ranges of any quality turntable manufacturer.

Melody Gardot - My One and Only Thrill - Next to the Linn LP12 Turntable

If it's an amplifier demonstration I'm conducting, Royal Blood will serve us well again, as will AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck', although a cut of some complex jazz piano in full flight will shine a spotlight, if rock isn't your thing. The massed vocals of a choir will give you a large dose of the chills, if I'm doing my job properly.

Foy Vance - “Signs of Life”, spinning on the iconic Linn LP12 turntable

If it's digital electronics under review, expect something warm and organic from me. A female singer/songwriter playing an acoustic instrument will illustrate how this particular CD player isn't clinical and cold at all (honest 'gov). Expect some electronica like Goldfrapp or Yello too; crisp, rapid, multi-layered, textured soundscapes with lots of space between samples, does lend itself to making digital electronics sound impressive, after all.

For the most part, smaller speakers generally sound faster and more accurate than their floorstanding brethren, so expect me to play smaller scale works on them. Breathy vocals from Diana Krall, cheeky, clever folk from Kate Rusby and the soaring soprano of Kate Bush should elicit gasps of delight. The pipe organ from Birmingham Symphony Hall during Wagner's Ring Cycle or the improbable bass guitar of Bootsy Collins, will illustrate exactly why you should buy these particular floorstanders Madam, with maybe a side order of subwoofer, if you'll indulge me for a moment whilst I power it up...

Acoustic Energy and REL - Two favourites at Audio T Swansea

I must stress that customers are always encouraged to bring their own music with them. Something they know, enjoy and are expecting to be thrilled by, but also an album that has always left them feeling a bit short-changed. When I can make 'that' CD sound good....

One of the joys of this job is experiencing new music and revisiting forgotten glories. This was amply demonstrated last Friday afternoon, when the gent who was evaluating a new streamer/amp/speakers/large subwoofer system for his very large kitchen/diner/family room, asked me to play Lorde "Royals", a favourite of his. Fans of this store will recall we played this track a lot when it first appeared in '06, but over the years other tracks have sidled into our orbit. How did that work out for me? Amazingly well. Shattering bass that can only be described as like standing in a warm river of moving air, the room pressurising and decompressing with each change of note. It’s a wonder our ears didn’t pop (Thank you REL S/510).

What my customer immediately exclaimed won't be repeated here (this is a family show after all), but he did ask "Does it all come in gloss black? (Yes it does) and "Do you take Mastercard?" (Yes we do) "Can you install it for me?" (It will be my pleasure Sir.)

My colleagues have their own favourite recordings, but you'll have to ask them about that...

Thanks for reading.

Adrian - Audio T Swansea

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Linn can be found at the following Audio T stores