Who Sits and Only Listens?

[UltraFast69]

Being an audiophile has compulsive traits, so when the music is playing do you sit there and listen, read, surf, other?


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[joeinid]

I only ocassionally sit there and concentrate on the music. I may start out doing that, but then end up on my phone, ipad, magazine or book.

[jadedavid]

Some nights I surf while listening, searching for new music.
Most nights I just listen, having the music transport me to a more relaxing peace of mind.
Listening to music is my emotional release and a time for self healing.
I think Dick Olsher summed it up best. "A day without music is like a black and white sunset".

[Kingrex]

Pretty much work out while listening. Sometimes surf. Sometimes I stop and pay attention.

[Gene]

Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to relax and get absorbed enough in the music to just sit and listen without getting distracted for any length of time.
When I was younger it was much easier to stop and listen. I guess the pressures of dealing with the practical side of life and the necessary responsibilities have a way of getting in the way.

[Mr Peabody]

When I listen to my main system it's, sit and listen. If something else distracts you then the music becomes just background music. If the listening wasn't the enjoyment I certainly could have spent less money, LOL

I have a different area and system for working out. When lifting the music is sort of background but sometimes it's motivating and while on the treadmill it can get boring so the music becomes more of a listening thing, although not the best environment.

For me surfing or reading, anything that takes brain power would take you from the music. I fall into the camp that feels there really isn't multi-tasking, one thing or the other is getting the most attention from us.

[still-one]

My listening sessions are often very long so like Joe my sessions are a mixture of doing things like reading a magazine, surfing a few sites and also spending time concentrating on the music.

[Mrppv]

Sometimes I just sit and listen; otherwise I do abstract puzzle games on my iPad, which I also use to control the music playback. Either way I'm in the sweet spot.

Can't read or surf... unlike the abstract games, it distracts me too much from the music.

[Fer1000]

I use to listen music everyday in the night after work and dinner.

Sometimes only listen to music with no lights or maybe a candle on...

Another with my tablet surfing, or with facebook open.

Also I have a whatsapp group with my audiophile friends here from Buenos Aires hence we use to send photos of the gear or some article relative to the hobby when everyone is in their homes listening.

[Calvin]

It's a mixture. Right now I'm listening to Eva Cassidy while surfing. I may have to stop in a few and listen more closely as she's sounding heavenly. However, I think it's valuable to do both with music I'm familiar with. With music I'm not familiar with my first few listening sessions are normally more intent.

I have a system that serves many purposes. First, it's a good system so I can listen critically. Second, my wife is listening now and so this is something we can do as a family. Third, I enjoy something going in the background while I'm surfing. I tend to think better in noisey environments (had no choice in my previous employ, so now it's part of me ...). Fourth, sometimes I just like a good glass of wine and listen for the pure enjoyment of it. It's relaxing.

[Kuoppis]

I usually start with focused listening to get my dose of high end, and after that it’s all of the above.

Or, I browse through things I like, and do a rock, jazz or classic tour de NAS.


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[asindc]

I do.

[CPP]

To darn old to just set still and listen, But its usually listen for a while reading or doing something around the house.

[Bobvin]

I don’t do background music unless I’m driving, so when I want to hear music it is a full listening session. Usually accompanied by a nice glass of vino (or two). If I wander off it is through Roon or pulling songs I have heard and SoundHounded/Shazaamed into my Roon library.

[jdandy]

My living room sound system provides me with background music most of the day. I turn it on in the morning while I'm brewing coffee. It usually remains playing music until early afternoon. During that time I am often reading or on the Internet. Having music playing keeps the house from feeling empty. Late afternoon will often find my sitting in the sweet spot in the living room for a couple of hours enjoying music without distractions.

The studio system is a whole different experience. When I go into the studio, usually at night, it is for the express purpose of enjoying music on that sound system. I'll dim the lighting way down and allow myself the pleasure of being completely absorbed in my choice of music. These listening sessions can go for as long as three to five hours uninterrupted.

Both the living room and studio sound systems deliver excellent performance. I don't feel compromised when listening to either system, but when I want complete immersion without distractions I generally migrate to the studio where the totally dedicate environment supports complete attention on the musical performance.

[brad225]

I will generally sit and just listen. With that, there is the need to decide what music will come next.
I currently have my system/room acoustics to the point that I will be looking at my iPad for music and find I am drawn away by the amazing detailed sound stage that is in front of me. It is so mesmerizing to hear. I just end up staring off in the direction of the front wall behind the speakers looking at different positions in the air as an instrument shows up then disappears as another one takes over.

[BlueFox]

I only turn my stereo on when I am going to ‘listen’ to it. This means sitting in the sweet spot for hours and listening. Other than occasionally looking at an iPad Mini, and drinking beer, music is all that is occurring.

[Mikado463]

when I'm in my 'chair' it's music and nothing else, well except for the sipping of good whiskey ........

[mep]

Pretty much work out while listening. Sometimes surf. Sometimes I stop and pay attention.

So are you saying you don’t sit and listen to your system?

[Mike Lavigne]

you have to look at this question a couple of ways.

how much time do you spend sitting in your listening chair in the sweet spot?

of that time, what percentage is only listening?

some rooms are multi-use rooms, where sometimes music is a background to other activity. my wife has Sonos and has music on all the time she does not have the TV on in her kitchen.

for me; i spend 30+ hours a week sitting in my sweet spot. my room has no video monitor, it's 2 channel only. no other activity happens in that room except for my laptop web surfing....or reading my Kindle or a HiFi magazine.

during digital listening; which is 70% of my listening, i multi-task, but still am engaged in listening, about 75% of the digital time. my dedicated 'music-only' digital listening time is mostly near bed time when i don't want to fall asleep with my turntable playing.

during 30% for vinyl or tape i'm 100% listening.....typically with the lights dim.

so my total is about 40-45% strictly sitting in my sweet spot just listening of my 30+ hours a week.

[Tubes]

This thread is an eye opener for me. I would have suspected that every single one of us sits and really listens to his or her system; I know I do. What's the point of spending all this time and money building a HiFi system that can move me if I'm not going to sit and really enjoy it? When I tell my wife "I'm gonna go give myself a concert", she knows where to find me; in front of my system.

[kiwi_1282001]

This thread is an eye opener for me. I would have suspected that every single one of us sits and really listens to his or her system; I know I do. What's the point of spending all this time and money building a HiFi system that can move me if I'm not going to sit and really enjoy it? When I tell my wife "I'm gonna go give myself a concert", she knows where to find me; in front of my system.

+1

[Mikado463]

So are you saying you don’t sit and listen to your system?

LOL, I was thinking the same thing ! Crazy, spend $$ and not take your listening seriously ??

[Kuoppis]

There are good comments on “sitting in the sweetspot” from Jonathan Valin in the MBL X-treme review.


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[Ritmo]

My listening sessions are often very long so like Joe my sessions are a mixture of doing things like reading a magazine, surfing a few sites and also spending time concentrating on the music.

Ditto. In our dedicated music room, I tend to listen in the late afternoon into the night (sometimes extending passed midnight).

We have a separate system for the house with built in speakers in most rooms. We play/stream music many hours during the week while doing house chores, cooking, entertaining.

[mep]

LOL, I was thinking the same thing ! Crazy, spend $$ and not take your listening seriously ??

One of the reasons I asked that was because he had just started a thread on AN about how great his system was sounding:

https://www.audionirvana.org/forum/t...-t-concentrate

[Mike]

I wonder if the format matters. Do you sit and listen more with vinyl and are distracted more with digital? I ask because digital often requires the iPad.


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[Bones13]

Just listening, yes, but also surfing, reading, napping, and watching video. All sorts of activities to enjoy in the man cave. We do have Sonos throughout the house that is used much of the day. I still work, so the man cave is decompression heaven for me.

Vinyl is mostly just listening.

[Mike Lavigne]

I wonder if the format matters. Do you sit and listen more with vinyl and are distracted more with digital? I ask because digital often requires the iPad.


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digital accommodates multi-tasking much better in numerous obvious ways. the i-pad is not a distraction, since one can set up endless play lists if you want to be completely music focused. OTOH the i-pad with Roon does offer lots of relevant information when i'm in the mood for that or i'm exploring, so it enhances my musical journey. so the i-pad in and of itself is not a distraction.

there is the 'finite' aspect to vinyl and tape as far as things (media and heads/stylus's) having relatively limited life (in reality it's not very relevant other than in comparison to digital). so one tends to subliminally 'defend' intrusions into analog listening times, whereas with digital it's trivial to pause or mute and then restart without a thought to it. one can repeat tracks endlessly with digital without a concern.

only speaking for myself, the experience of analog is richer and more emotionally compelling. i tend to view my analog listening times as more serious. so analog sessions rarely involve multi-tasking.

[Kuoppis]

I wonder if the format matters. Do you sit and listen more with vinyl and are distracted more with digital? I ask because digital often requires the iPad.

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For my part, my listening is more focused when listening to vinyl.


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[Big B]

I'm HT guy. When I'm using the big system I'm watching a movie. I virtually have never gone in there and switched to 2ch. I will however watch music video but that source is likely 4K.
I have a Bluos whole house system that get's played every day.
On the odd occasion I have a lounge in my dressing room that I will listen to 2ch even then I likely have the TV on on mute or I'm on the computer and head phones.
I find it difficult to sit still for a long time. Evan while I'm multitasking I do appreciate good recordings and will stop to take it in before going back to multitasking.

[UltraFast69]

For my part, my listening is more focused when listening to vinyl.


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Yeah I’m focused more too for the most part as realize it is easy to get sidetracked or nod off and forget that the needle is in the far inner circle and music is not playing


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[Kuoppis]

Yeah I’m focused more too for the most part as realize it is easy to get sidetracked or nod off and forget that the needle is in the far inner circle and music is not playing

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...you mean napping off, and having a dream being on a train, but then realizing it’s the needle in the inner groove loop...


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[UltraFast69]

...you mean napping off, and having a dream being on a train, but then realizing it’s the needle in the inner groove loop...


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Yep


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