Extravaganza – The Best Of
Extravaganza – The Best Of is a stylish audiophile vocal-jazz and smooth-jazz compilation from the S2S catalogue, presented in HQCD / HiQualityCD format. This album is made for listeners who enjoy a refined, clean and luxurious sound: intimate vocals, polished arrangements, smooth bass lines, spacious stereo imaging and a relaxed late-night hi-fi atmosphere.
This is not an aggressive “test disc” with extreme dynamics; it is more a premium listening album for judging musicality, vocal texture, tonal balance and stereo atmosphere. On a good system you should listen for the natural warmth of the voices, the air around the instruments, the soft decay of cymbals, and the way the soundstage opens behind the speakers. It is especially suitable for testing midrange purity, female and male vocal presence, smooth treble, and controlled bass without harshness.
What you must hear
Start with the vocal tracks. The most important thing to hear is whether the singer sounds centered, human and three-dimensional, not flat or pushed forward. Diana Krall-style material should reveal a warm piano tone, breathy vocal detail and a club-like ambience. Sophie Milman-style tracks are good for checking vocal smoothness and emotional intimacy. Michael Franks-style songs are useful for judging relaxed groove, bass definition and the natural flow of the arrangement.
Also listen carefully to the background instruments. A good pressing should give you clear separation between voice, piano, guitar, bass and percussion. The treble should sound silky rather than sharp, and the bass should be rounded, clean and musical. If your system is well balanced, this album should sound elegant, calm and expensive.
Recommended listening highlights
| Recommended focus | What to listen for |
|---|---|
| Diana Krall track | Piano body, vocal warmth, room ambience, natural jazz-club feeling |
| Sophie Milman track | Smooth female vocal, soft phrasing, emotional midrange |
| Michael Franks track | Relaxed groove, clean bass, warm male vocal tone |
| Bryan Ferry track | Stylish production, atmosphere, vocal character |
| Jonathan Butler / David Sanborn-style tracks | Smooth-jazz energy, sax/guitar texture, stereo width |
Extravaganza – The Best Of HQCD by S2S is a premium audiophile compilation for lovers of vocal jazz, smooth jazz, high-quality CD sound, audiophile voices, female vocal jazz, male vocal jazz, hi-fi test music and luxury lounge music. Released under the S2S / HiQualityCD concept, this album is ideal for testing vocal clarity, stereo imaging, warm midrange, smooth treble, deep soundstage and musical bass response. Recommended for fans of Diana Krall, Sophie Milman, Michael Franks, Bryan Ferry, Jonathan Butler and elegant audiophile jazz compilations.
