When You Listen, How Do You Listen?

[Moosbrugger]

Just curious if folks just sit back, perhaps with a beverage, and listen. Or is music generally background for reading, talking, doing chores, etc.

[AlainGr]

I listen to music while surfing on the net. Since my speakers are behind me, it is not optimal, but of course it is not intended for serious listening

[maelob]

Probably not a purist but I listen to my desktop system while surfing the net reading audiophile blogs LOL

[Blake]

The vast majority of the time, I turn down the lights a bit and just focus on the music from my listening chair, with no multi-tasking.

 

Occasionally, I will flip through a magazine while listening, but that is not as enjoyable.

[coot]

Can't do multitasking. Classical music requires full attention.

[realhifi]

If I had to just sit and listen I would not get that much listening in! I am all over the map with listening; sitting paying attention, reading, computing, working, testing gear, etc.

[Willi Studer]

Can't do multitasking. Classical music requires full attention.

 

Being a classical listener 90% of the time, I agree. However, I do make a difference between chamber music, which is appropriate for working and grand scale orchestral or vocal which I listen actively.

When I audition music equipment, I always do it with my eyes closed, so that the scene completely vanishes and the visual impact does not influence the judgement.

[Panelhead]

Just curious if folks just sit back, perhaps with a beverage, and listen. Or is music generally background for reading, talking, doing chores, etc.

 

Depends, it listening for pleasure always walking around, talking, doing other things. If listening for a specific reason reason, sit still centered between speakers.

Do very little serious listening. Really enjoy listening while cleaning, surfing, working, cooking, or whatever other tasks.

[Daudio]

If I had to just sit and listen I would not get that much listening in! I am all over the map with listening; sitting paying attention, reading, computing, working, testing gear, etc.

 

Same here !

[AudioDoctor]

Generally I listen with my ears but if anyone has a better way I am all... ears...

 

I listen in 3 ways:

 

Background while doing stuff around the house

 

While at my computer, like i am now.

 

and in listening space with a beverage

[hesson11]

Can't do multitasking. Classical music requires full attention.

 

Ditto. I'm in cahoots with coot.

-Bob

[Paul R]

Exactly so! I do sometimes listen in another way as well, so I would add:

 

4. Critical listening, when evaluating something. This type of listening is not for enjoyment. In fact, it is hard work.

 

 

Generally I listen with my ears but if anyone has a better way I am all... ears...

 

I listen in 3 ways:

 

Background while doing stuff around the house

 

While at my computer, like i am now.

 

and in listening space with a beverage

[Teresa]

I listen to music most of the time. Even when I am listening to music as background, such as typing this thread I still have to stop occasionally and close my eyes when the good parts come on.

 

When I want to listen to music as the main event I turn the lights out and get comfortable in the sweet spot, perhaps a cup of coffee on the end table, which I sometimes spill in the dark, but it's worth it as to me as music sounds so much better without the use of my eyes. I notice the soundstage is larger, the music more realistic, the sound smoother and more ambiant in the dark with eyes closed. I listen this way several hours a day.

[AudioDoctor]

Exactly so! I do sometimes listen in another way as well, so I would add:

 

4. Critical listening, when evaluating something. This type of listening is not for enjoyment. In fact, it is hard work.

 

I hate the phrase "critical listening" I just like to enjoy the music. Maybe that is why I don't find the HUGE differences some others do. I do still find some subtle differences between DACS and software specifically. But only after enjoying the music with each different DAC or Software for a while.

[Allan F]

The vast majority of the time, I turn down the lights a bit and just focus on the music from my listening chair, with no multi-tasking.

 

Occasionally, I will flip through a magazine while listening, but that is not as enjoyable.

 

+1 when listening on the main system in the living room.

 

Will also listen to J River playing back thru' my Monsoon speakers when at my desktop computer in the bedroom.

 

Critical listening, when evaluating something. This type of listening is not for enjoyment. In fact, it is hard work.

 

I do this when necessary. I agree with Paul that it is more akin to hard work than enjoyment. The concentration level demanded makes it very different from sitting back and just enjoying the music.

[DigiPete]

I like great sounds - music, movies and real life.

The roar of a V8, the thump of a M16 or great 1 cylinder bike. The vibes of a grand piano or the crisp dry sound of Miles' horn.

 

My rig is 5.1 surround and I use it for a wide variety of enjoyment:

 

1) Background music doing chores

2) Music while cooking

3) Music while at the computer - right in front of the speakers

4) Great movie sound

5) Imersive music enjoyment in stereo

6) Super imersive music enjoyment in surround

 

3-6 I sit right at the sweet spot.

4 I may occasionally have dinner

5-6 I do nothing but experience and enjoy, perhaps with a beer of single malt

 

I have a 2.0 rig for the kitchen in the making - same great speakers as my surround fronts: the fantastic Genelec 8260's.

I was planning to use them for the height layer in a Auro-3D 9.1 surround setup, but both movies and music are too few and far between so far.

[alexwgoody]

Does no one else occasionally take notes while listening? I guess my major reasoning for this is because my system is constantly undergoing changes to the DSP/ EQ and I will often note anything that jumps out as incorrect or needs attention - which is often bloated bass. I take measurements via REW as well, but it can be hard to get the whole picture from just my measurements because I get lazy and bored playing frequency sweeps and pink noise.

 

I have in the past had a decibel meter on for my reference to try and prevent hearing damage and it is interesting for me to see the actual volume in numerical terms.

 

I usually have the lights off, blinds closed and my eyes shut with some kind of booze and/or coffee (aeropress), occasionally a snack, in my hand. Sometimes, depending on what I'm listening to, I'll have a print out of the lyrics or some story behind the music (most often with prog-rock or classical music).

 

Like digipete and others I also have speakers around my apartment for music while cooking/cleaning/dinner/and a somewhat nice pair for my desktop. I am still figuring out the best way to have everything reading music off of 1 source, but its hard for me to justify the expense when I've already installed digital/ analog and speaker cables all across the place.

[mav52]

I like great sounds - music, movies and real life.

The roar of a V8, the thump of a M16 or great 1 cylinder bike. The vibes of a grand piano or the crisp dry sound of Miles' horn.

 

My rig is 5.1 surround and I use it for a wide variety of enjoyment:

 

1) Background music doing chores

2) Music while cooking

3) Music while at the computer - right in front of the speakers

4) Great movie sound

5) Imersive music enjoyment in stereo

6) Super imersive music enjoyment in surround

 

3-6 I sit right at the sweet spot.

4 I may occasionally have dinner

5-6 I do nothing but experience and enjoy, perhaps with a beer of single malt

 

 

Holy smokes Pete, I agree with everything you have noted, but we differ in that I have a 7.2 HT rig and a 2.1 channel rig. Well said

[Boris75]

I have a 2.0 rig for the kitchen in the making

 

Isn't stereo anathema to you?

[Boris75]

I have a 7.2 HT rig

 

Wow. I am impressed. I would love to have something like this in the not-too-distant future (ie while I still have some hearing). What is the last 0.1 in 7.2? Does this mean that you have two subwoofers?

[mav52]

Wow. I am impressed. I would love to have something like this in the not-too-distant future (ie while I still have some hearing). What is the last 0.1 in 7.2? Does this mean that you have two subwoofers?

 

Yes 2 subs. It's a custom built HT room ( with speakers built into the walls, in large chambers) with the following equipment; Denon 4311Ci, ATI 3005 amp, OPPO-105, BG Radia SA-360 (2) , (2) BGX-12B' (subs), (1) CC-400, SS-202 (4), BGX-A2 sub amp.

[Moosbrugger]

When people listen: is it more passive, i.e., just sitting back and letting the sound hit you; or active, say, focusing on the bass/focussing on the accompanying woodwinds during a symphony; trying to listen for the high-end; etc.

[DigiPete]

Isn't stereo anathema to you?

 

 

Surround is sublime

the more channels the better ;-)

but stereo can still be great

 

The Digital Provocateur

[Paul R]

Does no one else occasionally take notes while listening?

 

Sure, in fact, I have to take notes, else I will not remember what I thought.

 

But I only take notes when I am critically listening for some reason other than enjoyment.

 

-Paul

[AudioDoctor]

Sure, in fact, I have to take notes, else I will not remember what I thought.

 

But I only take notes when I am critically listening for some reason other than enjoyment.

 

-Paul

 

You guys are making this hobby into work. Why do you do this?