serious listening...what to do during it?

[Feanor]

So you have set up your listening space...moved speakers, toe-ed them in, changed components, turned on your best source material....THEN WHAT?

I've often tried to sit down and relax to music. Just me, the room, my gear and the music, but after 10-15mins i'm looking for something to do or a beer to drink.
Sure, we can be critical in dedicated music systems and wonder how this/that affects tonal accuracy, staging and imaging, and realistic sound reproduction.

But, at the end of the day, what do you do with the time?

Critical listening requires that you do nothing else. Obviously this is true for audiophile critique of the sound. But it's also true for full appreciation of the music.

But it could be that some music requires even more concentration to be appreciated. I'm fond of comtemporary classical music; I find it requires particularly close attention to be properly appeciated. For example Elliott Carter's Piano Concerto ...

[ForeverAutumn]

LOL... I do wonder how some audiophiles just recline in a chair in the sweetspot and not move, while a sweet groove is playing... I almost embarrassed myself at a few HiFi shops while auditioning gear... If I really like the sound, I want to dance, rather than just sit still in the auditioning chair...

I'll tap my toe, but that's about it. Although I listen to a lot of progressive rock and it's hard to dance in 11/15 time.

[Ajani]

But it could be that some music requires even more concentration to be appreciated. I'm fond of comtemporary classical music; I find it requires particularly close attention to be properly appeciated. For example Elliott Carter's Piano Concerto ...

It's truly interesting how subjective music is... I listened to the first 2 minutes of that song and it sounded like such a cacophony that I couldn't bear the thought of another 8 minutes of it... It sounded to me as if the piano keys were just being hit erratically, rather than with a clear flow to the intended music... Yet I'm sure that song is probably considered a masterpiece by many...

[Geoffcin]

I think you misread my post.

I agree that you cannot do "critical listening" while doing other things. My main point was that most of the time you do not need to do "critical listening" but only have to enjoy the music. I think the OP is operating under the impression that because he has invested some much time, energy and money into his set-up he feels he must sit and do "critical listening" everytime he sits down to listen to music. Most people do not (cannot) listen to music like this on a steady basis.

Well, I'm going to have to agree with you there. I certainly can't find the time to sit back and sip scotch with a good recording on a regular basis. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy my gear. heck, I've got 4 setups counting the computer system!

I think where it got off track is that the OP doesn't feel like sitting for hours in the dark with his rig, and was wondering if all of us do too. The fact for me is YES! I wouldn't mind a couple hours in a darkend room with my setup and a bunch of good recordings. If I didn't then I would either be looking to change out my gear or find another hobby.

[recoveryone]

I guess I fall in the catorgory of most, that I do not have the time on a regular bases to sit and enjoy. Fridays, my day off is about the only time I get to listen at any length and then I am on the computer or doing other things around the house. I assume most of use have fallen victim of multitasking in our fast pace world of always being plugged in. Being able to sit back and relax and just listen to music mean you are unplugged from the rest of the world (our lives) Cell phones, facebook, AV review, Kids, 200+ channels of HD TV and our spouses who some will feel how in the hell do you get the hide away from all this while I have to maintain the fort. lol

[emaidel]

I am fortunate now that I'm retired to have the time to do serious listening often. In fact, most of my listening is serious listening, and rarely ever anything else. If I want background music, then I turn on the music channel on my TV (which runs through an Adcom GFP-565 preamp, Rotel RB-980BX amp into a pair of B&W 802F Specials), and just have it on while I go about some other business.

I feel I'm also fortunate - very fortunate - to have found what appears to be the perfect "marriage" amongst my components, and so my system sounds very, very good. Most of my listening is to classical music, and it is through my audio system(s) that I have developed the taste for and knowledge of classical music that I have.

My latest venture, is to self-educate myself with the music of Anton Bruckner. I'd never known any of his music before, and now own recordings (mostly SACD's) of his 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Symphonies. My favorite (at least so far) is his Fourth, and the BIS SACD with Osmo Vanska conducting in particular. Listening - seriously listening - to the last two movements is exhilarating.

[blackraven]

I like to sit and listen with all the lights off and get swept away by the music. Its almost like meditation. I tune out everything else and unwind, listen and enjoy. Other times the wife and I will sit and listen (sometinmes dance) while drinking wine, marguerita's or shots of Buffalo Grass Vodka. The music gets turned way up when I cook or do chores around the house.

I try not to do the critical listening where I'm nit picking about my system anymore because you can drive yourself crazy. I've come to really appreciate the big bang for a buck sytem that I have put together.

[frenchmon]

As for drink and recreational substances; I'll partake of whatever I have at hand. It's usually, well lately, Saint Pauli Girl. In the bottle only.

I remember those days. Nothing like a good Saint Pauli Gal back in the day. But I dont do aything these days...havent had a drink since 1989.....and enjoying being drink and drug free ever since.

[Auricauricle]

Critical listening, for me, requires a commitment of time and effort; an investment that usually discourages the inclusion of others into the Inner Sanctum and has to be conducted with some preparation. Most of these sessions occur in the wee hours, when there are few distractions and nothing to occupy my thoughts but the music. Depending on the music, the preparation may or may not include alcohol or other substances to facilitate the entry into the spirit of the musician(s), who like shamans enter my inner being when the consciousness is completely overcome. This may involve other measures, such as taking deliberate breaths--as one might meditate--but these contrivances can be distracting. I just like it best when the music takes over, an experience much like an orgasm. In such occurrences, it is like a shock, right up the spinal cord to my brain. In such a state, I feel as though I understand the composer completely: there is no other way the piece could have been written....

(Ahem. Ye-e-e-sss...)

[TheHills44060]

Definitely need to have a drink. Beer or wine.

[Feanor]

It's truly interesting how subjective music is... I listened to the first 2 minutes of that song and it sounded like such a cacophony that I couldn't bear the thought of another 8 minutes of it... It sounded to me as if the piano keys were just being hit erratically, rather than with a clear flow to the intended music... Yet I'm sure that song is probably considered a masterpiece by many...

Yours is a typical reaction. But yes, Carter is one of the great composers of the latter half of the 20th century though he will never have the popular recognition he deserves for reasons you can imagine. (He is still alive and still composing in his 102nd year).

His music is almost entirely atonal, (which you call it erratic), however it is anything but random. If you listen carefully, (and that was my point), you will hear his music is polyphonic, i.e. having multiple parts, (or thermes), played by different instruments or groups of instruments. What is more unusual is that the multiple parts often have different tempos. Yet theses different parts and different tempos occassionally combine in planned manner.

[Jack in Wilmington]

I remember those days. Nothing like a good Saint Pauli Gal back in the day. But I dont do aything these days...havent had a drink since 1989.....and enjoying being drink and drug free ever since.

1989 that was a good year. That's when I gave up smoking. I'm drinking a little more now that my doctor said a glass of red wine is very good for me. Like the occasional pale ale or such. Now that my system has never sounded this nice (Thanks to you guys) I do spend my critical listening time.

[Tarheel_]

some very good replys...i'm enjoying reading through them all

[MntnMan62]

Great question. I tend to do most of my critical and serious listening on my second system in the mancave. First, I'll make sure I have a nice scotch (Lagavulin) or vodka (Rain Organic) and then I'll sit down and put something on that I have a real hankering for. I may just sit there and gaze off into space or catch up on some reading. Sadly it seems today's lifestyle just doesn't allow much time for this type of thing. I recall my days as a teenager in the mid to late 70's and I spent hours and hours doing exactly as I describe, except I was listening to albums, not compressed mp3's, and without the scotch or vodka. Now, I am lucky if I can put together 15 to 30 minutes a week. While that stat can really bum you out, I convince myself that it is all about quality, not quantity. Bottom line is we can probably all stand to do a little more critical listening. Might make the world a nicer place.

[Bluey]

I have the Cambridge Audio 650a and 650c so its not difficult to insert a favourite CD or SACD and just sit or lie down to escape the real world.
Since setting up my Cambrdge Audio system I do 'listen' more than I did when just running the HT system.
I do the serious listening instead of watching the 'box' at least 3 times a week, with casual listening more regularly.
Critical listening is not what I had in mind when buying my equipment.
I recently bought CA's 650T and can now listen to DAB+ as well, which is to me what its all about - i.e. listening to and enjoying music.

Cheers from Down Under.

[Robert-The-Rambler]

I sit down or lie down. I turn out the lights making the room as dark as possible. I turn up the volume to levels that could revive the near dead. I close my eyes. If I know the lyrics I may try to sing along. I try to avoid interference from my other senses and wind up in a trance-like state. The goal is a spiritual experience.