The Perfect Song Playlist to Test Your Car Speaker System Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

A Playlist to Test Speakers In a New Car

25 popular songs that will measure all aspects of an automobile sound system

Test a new car's sound system before you buy with our curated playlist. Getty Images Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. A 40-year veteran at the studio mix board and winner of eight Grammy awards, Scheiner has done studio work for the Eagles, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac and others you might have on your own list of favorites. He says he won’t sign off on the final sound mix of music he has produced until he hears it in a car. “I know what the car sounds like and what I want people to hear,” he says. Mark Ziemba, a sound engineer at Panasonic who works with Scheiner on the Acura ELS — as well as with other automakers on their high-end car systems, says his benchmark for testing music is, “If you put it in a stereo system and hear new details, or it sounds like it did when you first heard it and fell in love with it, that’s a good system.” He listens for “new details in your favorite recordings; whether the sound is realistic and natural, placing the vocals and instruments where you think they should be. You don’t want your favorite vocalist captive in the near-side door.” Also, there should be no distortion, nor should the sound system have boomy bass notes, shrieking and brittle high notes, or tinny midrange sound. One song Ziemba and Scheiner both say is a great audio test — and a sweet piece of music, period — is the “Hotel California (Live)” track on the Eagles’ Hell Freezes Over album. Ziemba says the piece has “incredible imaging and spaciousness, [and a] powerful kick drum. This selection is utilized by many carmakers to test their systems.” We asked Ziemba to craft a playlist that would be a credible test of a car's stereo system and feature . Below are 25 songs from a variety of artists in popular genres that can help you discern the features of a car sound system.

Alternative Rock

Green Day – “Know Your Enemy”

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Rhythm and Blues br

Marvin Gaye – “Mercy, Mercy Me” (“Fabulous track with the famous cowbell with reverb.”)Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” and “Bad”

Pop br

Adele — "Skyfall"Christina Aguilera – “Come On Over” (“Listen for midrange glare and harshness.”)Kesha – “Praying”Hall & Oates – “Sara Smile”Steely Dan – “Black Cow” and “Peg” from Aja album More on auto AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Gas & Auto Services offers > See more Home & Real Estate offers > See more Insurance offers > See more Car Rentals offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS