$250,000 Ears? How do you know your hearing is different?


Just wondering if others experience events regularly that demonstrate a level of hearing that is beyond normal?

What event highlighted to you that your hearing is more acute or discerning than others?

I have had many experiences through life from being able to hear a baby cry when others could not to being able to determine live instruments from music playback from outside a venue.

My most recent experience was in church last week. We arrived late. We were seated at the back. Very quickly I became entranced by the sound of the piano played during the first hymn. After a few minutes I remarked to my wife if she could hear something special about the piano. Even after pointing it out she did not hear anything at all worth remarking. Although we could not see the piano from the back I said to her well they seem to have a new piano (purely judging by the sound). After another hymn I asked her if she could hear that the piano was not just different but it was remarkable in its clarity, balance, timbre and tone. I said I don’t think I have ever heard a live piano sound so good. The wife kind of puzzled now just shrugged. Probably even more puzzled because we went late to mass due to commitments and we had not been to this particular cathedral in months - so what basis could anyone have for discussing the relative sounds of a mere piano with the last listening being months ago. After the service I went up front and took a good look at the piano. I was not at all delusional. It was a stunning Steinway Grand (on loan to the church). The organist was very proud and apparently the value of this Steinway was $250,000 !!!!!


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Showing 1 response by mapman

Very interesting topic!

I suspect people hear differently meaning that they listen or focus on certain things better than others and probably miss the boat totally on others.

Just like you can’t take in a beautiful panorama in nature and also focus on specific details at the same time.

Some people learn to focus on both at different times since doing both at the same time to the same degree is probably not possible or at least realistic. Others focus on certain things mostly or always and that’s it. I was like that when younger.

So what’s better? The ability to hear specific things better than others or the ability to choose what one will focus on and learn to hear that?

When it comes to listening I think I am pretty good at changing my focus and then synthesizing things together to gain a better appreciation of the whole using multiple perspectives.

At teh same time I am over 50 and know I do not hear higher frquencies I could when young. However I can hear the frequencies where most music occurs and not so well the ones that are often troubled by extreme high frequency noise and distortion.

All things considered, music sounds better to me than ever these days and my enjoyment for all forms of music as well. I am also able to appreciate good but different sounds coming from different sources/systems/venues/players/recordings rather than just some "absolute sound" that is rare at best.

Bottom line is it is truly a blessing to be able to enjoy all forms and kinds of music in many ways and I would leave it at that.