How often do you critically listen to your system?

Frihed91 · « **Reply #20 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 05:45 pm »

I try not to. I try to enjoy what i am listening to.

RH Customs · « **Reply #21 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 06:11 pm »

Same here.

RH

Mathew_M · « **Reply #22 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 06:18 pm »

I'm definitely more of a seasonal audiophile. It's not that I don't listen to music during the summer months it's just not 'active' like it is during the fall and winter. When I say active, I mean sitting and listening for a couple hours a night and tweaking my system like a complete nutter.

Dan Banquer · « **Reply #23 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 06:30 pm »

At least once a week. I keep listening for all of those changes burn in is supposed to make but I guess I'm concentrating so much on the music that I just don't seem to hear it.

&

d.b.

mgalusha · « **Reply #24 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 06:53 pm »

Critically - only when I have made some change or I hear something that bothers me. I probably sit and do nothing but listen to music about 10-15 hours/week. Some days more than others, depends on the honey-do list, weather, etc..

hmen · « **Reply #25 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 07:27 pm »

I only listen critically when I change a component or a friend points out something to me. Most of the time it's just for fun.

nathanm · « **Reply #26 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 07:57 pm »

I used to listen a lot more when I had more understanding tennants, but now with new people I have to accomodate their sensitive ears and hurt feelings. So when music is on it's in the background at about 50-60db, otherwise I'm listening to talk radio or something. It pretty much sucks. Listening is not any fun at those low levels. I still have a strong desire to unwind and spend the end of each day listening to at least one good album in its entirety over a nice cup of tea, but I just can't. When I'm in the mood for listening most people are going to bed. It sucks even more because I stopped changing equipment and was mostly happy with the sound. It comes starts to come alive at 75db or so but I can't go there without guilt and fear of reprisal. This is no joke. It's like being in a museum; lots of nice stuff on display BUT DON'T TOUCH IT!!!

If there are any young kids\teenagers reading this I have only one piece of advice; if you like audio\music just keep yourself occupied with reading and dreaming about it and put all your money towards buying a house first. Don't rent an apartment, ever, for any reason. Renting is pure evil. Unless your thing is headphones just forget it, don't waste your money on gear.

I would also clarify that at least to me there's a difference between active listening and critical listening.

Active: Sitting in sweetspot not doing anything else (everyday)
Critical: Same as above but with a mental focus on sound quality and\or comparing different equipment (hardly ever)

timothyharnett · « **Reply #27 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 08:08 pm »

Quote from: Mike B. on 5 Oct 2006, 04:14 pm

During the summer, I don't listen in the sweet spot that often. As the weather deteriorates, I begin to do more listening. I have a fairly open design home, so the tuner is on most of the time. I can get really carried away with image placement and other audiophile things, but that usually interferes with enjoying the music. I wonder if there is a 12 step program for those times when we obsess rather than enjoy?

For me it's every day. Weather is a factor here as well as the Tuner is probably my main source and the sound changes hour by hour.

Soundbitten · « **Reply #28 on:** 6 Oct 2006, 12:15 am »

Quote from: nathanm on 5 Oct 2006, 07:57 pm

I used to listen a lot more when I had more understanding tennants, but now with new people I have to accomodate their sensitive ears and hurt feelings. So when music is on it's in the background at about 50-60db, otherwise I'm listening to talk radio or something. It pretty much sucks. Listening is not any fun at those low levels. I still have a strong desire to unwind and spend the end of each day listening to at least one good album in its entirety over a nice cup of tea, but I just can't. When I'm in the mood for listening most people are going to bed. It sucks even more because I stopped changing equipment and was mostly happy with the sound. It comes starts to come alive at 75db or so but I can't go there without guilt and fear of reprisal. This is no joke. It's like being in a museum; lots of nice stuff on display BUT DON'T TOUCH IT!!!

Gee nathanm , that's gotta be one of the saddest things I've ever read .

nathanm · « **Reply #29 on:** 6 Oct 2006, 02:47 pm »

I know, sounds melodramatic, but it's really my own damn fault!

The first time I just got a note pushed under my door (this is after six years of NO complaints about sound whatsoever from anyone) from a tennant but the next time the landlord called so I figured I had better put a sock in it. Sometimes I see semi trailers on the freeway hauling spancrete with insulation in those oval cavities and I wish my place was built with those! Heh! I am planning on moving ASAP, but where and how is the question.

macrojack · « **Reply #30 on:** 6 Oct 2006, 03:24 pm »

I'm a landlord and I have to say that if I had a tenant who had caused no problems to myself or the other tenants for six years, I would be extremely skeptical about a new tenant's gripe.
Where do you live and what keeps you there?

nathanm · « **Reply #31 on:** 6 Oct 2006, 03:53 pm »

Actually on an unrelated call from the landlord she said, "Gee Nate, you're the best tennant in the world, I never hear from you..." It's true, I don't like to cause problems, I just wanna be left alone. I've never actually called my landlord for anything. The guy that used to live above me played music even louder than I'd feel comfortable playing and as far as I know he didn't catch too much grief. He was also the building manager though, so maybe that was why. I expect there to be a certain level of noise and disturbance if one chooses to live in an apartment, but the new people obviously have different views. It's not that I don't sympathize, I do. When music travels through walls all the people on the other end get is a lowpass filter at about 40Hz. That's definitely annoying. I am sure the other people in the building are actually sitting in the sweetspot for MY subwoofer!

I guess the cheap rent keeps me here, that and my own poor financial choices. (i.e. spending so much on audio for one!) If I was smart I would've put every dollar I earned away at an early age and had plenty for a house downpayment. But a person's priorities aren't exactly the most rational. What I did was put the cart before the horse. It should be structural autonomy first, audio toys second. Otherwise it's like having brushes and paint but no canvas.

Rocket · « **Reply #32 on:** 6 Oct 2006, 04:02 pm »

Hi,

I listened critically about 3-4 times per week. Perhaps i'm too much of a fanatic. I'm lucky i don't live in an apartment

.

Regards

Rod

ricmon · « **Reply #33 on:** 6 Oct 2006, 07:35 pm »

I live in an apartment and I listen to my system daily and loudly. Luckily the apartment below me has really tall ceilings and they can't hear a thing. How often to I critically listen to music? I have a listening session every day where I just sit in my sweet spot in seriously and intently listen to the musicians performing just for me. I take the art of music making very seriously and have nothing but the highest respect for people that can create write and perform this art. There is absolutely nothing more important to me that being able enjoy music.

rbrb · « **Reply #34 on:** 7 Oct 2006, 05:40 am »

Every evening. The later the better. If I find myself not having enough time to critically listen to at least a few cuts a day it reminds me that I'm taking life to seriously and I am not paying attention to the little things that matter.

Listens2tubes · « **Reply #35 on:** 10 Oct 2006, 11:13 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 11 Sep 2006, 12:50 am

I know whether I like something is seconds...so I don't specifically set aside any time at all.

And, I've learned, critical listening with CD is an oxymoron (double entendre?) of sorts. Only vinyl compels me to sit and listen without doing anything else for a spell

EXACTLY!

Daygloworange · « **Reply #36 on:** 13 Oct 2006, 04:29 am »

RbRb,

Yep, Ditto! Music has the same importance to me. Really delving into good music is really one of life's greatest pleasures!

Cheers

beachbum · « **Reply #37 on:** 15 Oct 2006, 03:00 pm »

great topic, why in the world would you spend the money and time to set up a great system and not spend time listening critically or not, as for my self and my wonderful wife we spend at least twenty hours a week in our sweet spots, loving all of that classic rock we can, for us its a great release from the days stressful activities, work, driving, market, ect, nothing could be better than popping open your favorite spirits, red wine for us, and dropping the needle on some fine vinyl, mike

timind · « **Reply #38 on:** 20 Oct 2006, 02:31 am »

I listen to my sysem at least one hour per day. Usually later in the evening. Critically? Once a week or so. The other day I listened to Joni Mitchells Court and Spark critically. Had to listen to it the next day for pure enjoyment. Which do you think was preferrable?

Daygloworange · « **Reply #39 on:** 20 Oct 2006, 03:14 am »

I don't know how often this happens to other people, but very often, I will decide I want to listen to music and do nothing else. I'll pop whatever music I'm in the mood for, dim the lights, sit comfortably in my chair and start to critically listen.
Every time I try and do this, 20 or 30 seconds later, I get so drawn into the music, I forget that I was trying to focus on listening to the sound. Then I'll remember, and start all over again, only to have the same thing happen! It's like my attention span disappears. I've done this numerous times. Sometimes I'll be 3 or 4 songs into a CD and remember "Oh, shit! I forgot what I set out to do" which was evaluate something or other. I think it's pretty amusing. I eventually just go with the flow, and just give in.

Man, this hobby can make you nuckin' futs!