2. music
  3. 1091135854

I Hardly Listen to Music Anymore

I've been a frequent observer to Audiogon, but this is the first thread I've started.

I find that I rarely listen to music anymore. (Once every couple of weeks). Let me explain.

I've been into audio for about 35 years. When I first got started listening to music and got involved in audio, in the late 60's, music was not a background pastime. When the new Dylan, Band, Allman, James Taylor, Santana, etc., album came out I'd listen to it in a dark room, in the sweet spot, eyes closed, alone or with friends, for hours on end, to great satisfaction. Since then, that's how I've always listend to music and I still enjoy listening like that for hours on end when I can.

As I grew older, I was never able to listen to music as background, because I can't concentrate on work or anything else when music plays. Consequently, as time goes on, and I have less and less time for serious listening sessions, I find I listen to music less and less. I don't play music at work and do not put the big rig on when I'm just hanging around at home in another room.

Other friends/coworkers constantly have jam boxes, walkmen, ipods etc playing as filler. So the people who care about music less listen to it more and people who care about music more listen less. I also am not as exposed to new music as people who constantly listen as background.

One of life's little ironies, I guess. Anyone else have this experience?

PS- It's not that my stereo is fatiguing. When I have time to listen for an hour or two I fall in love with my system(Wadia 21, ML-335, Wilson Sophia, Transparent cable) all over again. I've finally gotten it to the point where it is detailed yet smooth, and effortless at all volumes. So its not listner fatigue.
mitchell
ozfly
887 posts
 
Wow! That's tough. Much of the time, I listen to my system as background music -- but I am drawn into it 100% often enough to make it great (it plays and I simply stop sometimes and just listen before resuming what I was doing). Other times, I focus only on the music. Sometimes, I try to make it background music and can't -- I listened to Mozart last weekend while trying to work and I simply couldn't do my work: Mozart was too compelling.

I wonder if it's a matter of training. Could you play some generic music you don't care for much in the background to get used to playing your system while multi-tasking? Abba perhaps ;-) I believe we can continue to train ourselves and at least some of our habits -- but it must be done deliberately and patiently. Good luck.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Mitchell,

I know where you're at, but for me I enter that stage for usually only a few months at a time. Eventually I return to the dark, late nights reclining and being lifted away by unearthly rhythms.

In these modern times, it's easy to get distracted or steered down different paths.

Wait.

I think...

Yes, I hear a faint voice. It sounds like a left Wilson Sophia calling out your name...

"Mitchell...come back to me..."
mijknarf
266 posts
 
On my way to work, I listen to talk radio, at work I have no music in my office (can't concetrate), on the way home, talk radio, at home... every chance I get, I play my system. In fact... today, I came home for lunch for a brief listening session to unwind just a little bit. It is on every day with at least 1/2 hour in the sweetspot. It relaxes me, removes the pressure of work and is much preferred over TV.
tjbearman
40 posts
 
I go through phases of listening less for exactly the reasons you described - I like listening intently and have less time these days than when I was a student and first got audiophiled. I have to say I've also gotten more involved in live music, both listening and playing. When I work at home, I listen to the internet radio all day. But I use a moderately crummy audio setup which, I think, helps keep me from getting distracted by the sound itself. I love the radio because it lets me hear new stuff I might not otherwise hear.

I'm on vacation this month and I'm listening to more music because I have more time. I've fallen for Cyndi Lauper (again) and her "At Last" CD.

TJ
kana813
956 posts
 
Mitchell- suggest you start buying at least one new CD each
week, trying some of the excellent suggestions on this forum.
More to discover