Some people take car as… car. A simple thing that lets them move from Point A to Point B. But there’s just some other group around that’s not satisfied with just “Moving from Point A to Point B”. And you’ll just frown upon them when they throw in a £5,000 Bang & Olufsen speaker system into their ride. Yes they call it their ride, not their car. See the difference?

Music and driving are two things that go great together. When a vehicle is equipped with a good audio system, it helps complete a journey that starts when you twist the key and ends when you arrive at your destination whistling the song you just listened to. But that also depends on your car’s audio system. If it’s awful, then you’ll just keep on changing tracks as you just can’t bear the awful beats and annoying high pitch. But if it’s a superb setup then your mood changes. Sweet ride!

In order to achieve top notch listening environments, automakers often employ audio engineers from famous audio companies who are quite skilled at being good listeners. No not that kind of listener ladies. More like people with explicit ear drums. Matt Kirsch however, an audio engineer with General Motors, may be more interesting judging by his preferred playlist used when testing audio setups. Kirsh has made public his own Top 10 list for testing the mettle of our own sound systems. It’s very subjective, but many audiophiles have their own unique list of songs to test out audio setups for cars, and it’s up to you whether you agree on the list, or not.

1.  “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones. Listen for Norah’s voice to sound natural, and centered in front of you.

2. “Diamonds and Rust” by Joan Baez. Listen for strong vocals, and for the instruments to be set across a wide sound stage.

3. “No One” by Alicia Keys. Listen for clarity in Alicia’s vocals and spacious background sound.

4. “Hotel California” by the Eagles. Listen for the clarity and dynamic range during the opening guitar solo, and of course the powerful drum beat.

5. “Boom Boom Pow”by the Black Eyed Peas. Listen for powerful, accurate bass beats, even at full volume.

6. “Rock that Body”by the Black Eyed Peas. Listen clear, intelligible lyrics over the powerful, persistent bass beat.

7. “Hide and Seek”by Imogen Heap. Listen for the enveloping ambience of the song, building on the openness and dynamic vocals.

8. “He Mele No Lilo” by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu from Lilo and Stitch.Listen for the ambience and staging as the children’s chorus is offset by powerful bass.

9. “Bird on a Wire” by Johnny Cash. Listen for the clarity in Johnny’s distinctive voice, and his guitar to sound natural and free of any coloration.

10. “Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box” by Radiohead. Listen for the punch from the percussive bass, and the ring of the steel drums.

SOURCE via USA Today