Where's a good place to buy a "TEST LP"

Not even sure what to call it, but I assume said record would have sines, sweeps, separate tests, etc.

Buying used doesn't seem like a good idea for something like this ...

This somewhat depends on what you want it for. There are several on the market that contain different materials.

The HiFi New & Record Review Test Record is intended to help set-up a TT, arm, and cartridge.

The Cardas Frequency Sweep and Burn-in Record has a greater variety of tracks, but none that would seem to be especially good for the things the HiFI N&RR disk works at.

There is something relatively new called, I think, The Ultimate Test Record, or some such silly thing. Reading a list of its contents gave me the impression that it is probably much more useful when designing a phono preamp than when attempting to set up a TT.

I know a number off other things have been produced, but I don’t know what else is currently in production. I’ve found several in thrift shops, but I don’t think any of those were ever on the most-wanted list. Their condition probably isn't optimum if your purpose is precise cartridge set-up, but they all still containe the recordings they were supposed to have.

A fair number of dealers carry these things, one or several. Needle Doctor, KAB, Audio Advisor, and Music Direct are probably good on-line places to look in the U.S. Someone will probably list the tracks with the product description.

I bought a copy of the Hi-Fi News test record a few years ago from Origin Live in the UK:

http://www.originlive.com/

I was less than impressed when it arrived poorly pressed and massively off-centre. I reported this to Origin Live and they couldn't have been less interested - too busy peddling dodgy claims to audiophools, I suspect...

eg. from their website's front page:

"Vinyl records represent the highest and most satisfying form of reproducing music. The superiority and increasing popularity of turntable replay is due to the steady development of decks and phono stages which play this great and unlimited format. Contrastingly the new formats of DVD-A and SACD are plagued by the same fundamental problems as CD. They are now also further degraded by encryption watermarks."

So what exactly are "the same fundamental problems as CD" and what do they mean by "further degraded"? This is coming from a company that can't sell a decent test LP!!!

Thanks.  That was enough of a nudge to help me find one.  The HiFi News disc is the sort of thing I was looking for.  I ended up ordering the Analogue Productions ULTIMATE ANALOG TEST LP 180g LP.  Just looking for a way to confirm proper setup.  Sounds like this will get the job done.

Looks like a good choice to me.  The fact that the authors of this disc appreciate that you can not set anti-skate parameters by simply allowing the stylus to slide around on a large bit of land indicates they really have some understanding of the vectors involved.

I have the Cardas disc - and it's very well done - but I find I keep returning to my old Hi-Fi Sound test record (which was purchased in 1975!) for quick and easy setups. 

For those who might find $40 a bit strong, I don't think I would have too much of a problem buying a scond-hand disc.  The most likely person to be selling one would be someone who is well aware of what it is and how it should be used - and most likely, not possess a player that would damage it in any way.  Given reasonably care, such a disc will last many years (after all, mine is now 32 years of age).

You do remember "Don't trust anyone over 30" yes?

I thought about the fact that a test disk would likely be low mileage ... I did a little searching (ebay) for a used copy, but only found new ones for the same or more.

$40 was a bit more than I was hoping to spend, but it was less than the Hi Fi News disk by a few bucks.  I am also intrigued by the anti-skate setup - that's something I admittedly don't know enough about.

You do remember "Don't trust anyone over 30" yes?

Later on in life, that seems to shift ... "Don't trust anyone UNDER 30" ...  yes?

[edit] oh yeah - the RIAA tests also interest me [/edit]