Weird question - cupping hands around ears?

davejcb · « **on:** 12 Sep 2004, 04:32 am »

Just accidentally discovered that if I cup my hands around my ears, leaving only the front exposed, blocking the rear and sides from being exposed, everything sounds much better. Better tonality, depth, clarity, etc...

Am I on crack here or is there an explanation? Only thing I can think of is blocking reflections from rear and sides?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Sep 2004, 04:40 am »

I saw a link once to some Japanese website that sold little headphone/cupped hand doohickies like that that you wear. Supposedly they're for lectures, concerts, etc.

Marbles · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Sep 2004, 04:42 am »

Funny thread about that here:

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/general/messages/344922.html

davejcb · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Sep 2004, 08:30 pm »

Interesting. Sounds like my experience, except I don't have reflections treated yet, so my imaging is better with cupping,

MaxCast · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Sep 2004, 11:26 pm »

I don't know what to think of it. I have done it too. While the change seems better, I don't know if I could live with it in the long term.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Sep 2004, 02:38 am »

Quote from: Marbles

Funny thread about that here:

Sam Tellig of Stereophile was a big proponent of Serious Listeners and supposedly wore them not only while listening at home but at live shows, presumably classical. The conductor would glance out into the audience, see Sam wearing these leather strap-ons and think that Prince Charles was in attendance.

Lost81 · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Sep 2004, 03:29 am »

Hey!

Where are the DBT guys?

"If I can't measure the difference with my Jeebus-calibrated instruments, then cupping your ears towards the audio source shouldn't make a difference! It's all in your head! You are falling prey to audiophile vocabulary!"

-Lost81