Harman's "How to Listen" - A new computer-based listener training program

[tonmeister86]

I've posted a new article on my audio blog (http://seanolive.blogspot.com/2009/05/harmans-how-to-listen-new-listener.html) about our new computer-based listener training program used for training Harman listeners.

 

We are considering making this available for free to audio recording engineers, audio students, audio reviewers, and the audio consumer to increase consumer awareness and appreciation for higher quality audio recording and reproduction.

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Sean - This is very very cool. The sooner you guys can make it happen he better. Thanks for posting this one :~)

 

[usernaim250]

Sean, this could set the audio community forward a number of years. Of course many will ignore it. But with a tool like this out there, many people will sharpen their listening and description, and raise their standards for what they expect from others (and the press) in that regard.

 

And what's to lose? If more people adopt the listening standards by which Harman designs equipment, aren't more people likely to prefer Harman brands?

 

Besides, the goodwill it generates for your brands will be tremendous.

 

[flatmap]

This is the most interesting idea I've come across all year.

 

While I expect this would help me directly in improving my own setup, I'm particularly keen on the idea that this could foster better communication about sound and equipment. I think usernaim250 is saying this just the right way, in that it would "set the audio community forward a number of years."

 

[usernaim250]

@Flatmap

 

Exactly.

 

[tonmeister86]

Thanks Usernaim250. That is my thinking too. I see no serious downside in making the training software freely available. People who use the training software will become more aware of the difference between good and poor sound quality, and that can only help our cause.

 

[Mike in MD]

I spent a whole day at an audio store, hoping someone would help me hear the difference in sound between different setups. The only thing they did was change $400 interconnects to $7000 interconnects and say "Did you hear that?"

 

Well, no. They both sounded good.

 

I would love to be educated.

 

Mike

 

 

[usernaim250]

Mike, here is an excerpt from the RCA-Victor booklet "Hints for Salesman" from 1931 that shows you how it's supposed to be done:

 

Use RE-57. Play Stokowski “Stars and Stripes Forever.” “Call the Prospect’s special attention to the fidelity of tone – absolutely true to pitch and color…Call attention to the broad sweep of the orchestra, playing with a full complement of more than one hundred men. Notice the contrast between the strings and the brass. Call attention to the magnificence, the thrilling, martial swing as the orchestra into the stirring finale of “The Stars and Stripes Forever”.

 

[Audio_ELF]

usernaim250 ...

 

You forgot the most important steps ... make the customer feel like an idiot if he fails to spot the obvious differences when listening to the first and second cable ... :-)

 

Eloise

 

[danish]

I believe that this training program originates from the one that Revel/Kevin Voecks uses in the R&D of the Revel Ultima line.

Here is an interview with Kevin Voecks where he tells about test procedures at Revel:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_2/feature-interview-kevin-voecks-4-2004.html

 

 

[jtconte]

I would love to do this training! Please let us know when it's available.

 

John

 

[lamarzocco]

I'd love to try this out, sounds very interesting... Nice to see my old employer still kicking out cool stuff.

 

[tonmeister86]

You can now download version 2.03 (beta) for Mac or Windows computers here: http://harmanhowtolisten.blogspot.com/2011/01/welcome-to-how-to-listen.html

 

Let me know what you think. Enjoy!

 

[DigiPete]

 

Hi Sean

 

Thanks for providing a great tool!

 

Excellent training tool - It's tougher than you would think to get it 100%.

 

Take it for a test spin guys, do it when you have lots of time!

 

[flatmap]

Thanks so much for putting this out for us.

 

I learned that even though I am listening carefully, the music directs my attention to some changes more than others.

 

I tired easily at first and, once my attention flagged, I made silly mistakes. Reliably.

 

Switching to headphones made everything a bit easier.

 

 

 

[NickG]

Hoping for some help on how to access the program files. Each time I try to 'practice' it tells me I am missing program files. I was able to move the white noise and 60hz hum into itunes, but can't seem to find access to the four songs to be used. I'm using a mac.

 

[DigiPete]

 

Just download and log in

 

[NickG]

Pete, I should have been more descriptive. I did download the program and logged into it. When I go to 'training sessions' and click on practice, it asks me to choose program material. When I select one of the four pieces of program material, I get no sound. I can't seem to find the four songs listed as program material, so I'm not sure they actually downloaded properly to my computer. I thought they might go to my itunes library, but they haven't. I'm pretty new with a Mac, so it could be I just don't know how to access where they are on my computer.

 

[DigiPete]

Nick

 

Open finder, choose Programs and locate the 'Harman How To Listen' folder.

 

These are the files that i find on my MAC:

 

My 'Harman How To Listen' folder contains:

 

How To Listen (Program)

mix-ins (Folder)

programs (Folder)

 

My 'mix-ins' folder contains:

 

60hz_hum_44_mono.wav

60hz_hum_48_mono.wav

wht_noise_44_mono.wav

wht_noise_48_mono.wav

 

My 'programs' folder contains:

track1-48.wav

track1.wav

track2-48.wav

track2.wav

track3-48.wav

track3.wav

track4-48.wav

track4.wav

 

Try to download again if you do not find the same files.

 

[NickG]

Thanks, Pete. Nothing in the program file other than a 'read me' folder. I'll need to delete the program, I think, and then download again.

 

[NickG]

Thanks again, Pete. Got it working, it's pretty fun.

 

[wgb113]

This is tough on iPod earbuds plugged into my PC speaker's headphone jack!

 

Can't wait to try it at home.

 

Bill