HELP Turning off the Left Brain

You could go out for competitive pricing on a lobotomy--maybe get a "2 Lobes for the Price of 1" offer.

The music--in and of itself--should transcend the medium, I think. Somehow, you've lost grasp of the music itself. Consider the following:

(a) Train yourself on an inferior medium, say a $199 mini-component system, until you begin to hear the music through the medium again. Then, your "tweaked out rig" will sound that much better when you return to it.

(b) Get a dedicated headphone system. It's cheaper, has less things to tweak, and you can alternate between various headphones on hand for a needed change of pace. (If it includes a tubed head-amp, you can tube roll for added variation.)

(c) Get a season ticket to the hear live symphony. Get out and listen to live music, whenever possible.

(d) Get an A/V system. Perhaps entertaining your weaker videophile tendencies will offset/suppress your rampant audiophile compulsions.

I've had good success with (a), (b) and (d). But (c) is my ultimate solution--which, for me, is commensurate with my getting rid of a super-tweaked out audio system altogether. I haven't successfully attempted option (c) yet, though.

At present, I've traded/sold off my single, monster audio rig (~$20,000) for a modest headphone system at work (~$1500), and a modest A/V system at home (~$2000). I am enjoying the music again--through a pair of $15 Sennheiser earbuds!

Godspeed to you!

Turning off the left brain is tough to do, especially for equipment and set up freaks. You're probably very normal. It sounds to me as if you're just bored with your music.

The solution to the problem is to start taking music itself as the important part of the hobby and applying as much effort in that regard as you previously did with equipment and set up. In my experience, unlike the past, when I put on music now I hear the audio stuff for a few seconds, but then the music takes over.

I don't know what your preferences are but the possibilities for expanding your knowledge and enjoyment of music is endless in classical and jazz alone.

Highly recommended!

Only once have I been able to turn off my analytical nature long term. I had finally optimized a former system over a period of years and finally felt that I could let go and enjoy the music. I enjoyed that system for over a year without one change until the upgrade bug hit me. Since adding a new amp and speakers about a year ago I've been on the old optimizing routine which necessitates the analysis bug. Perhaps some of us can only completely give up the analysis when we optimize one system and become fearful of upsetting things with another change.

I'm serious with this suggestion ... Take up mindfulness meditation. An excellent book by Jon Kabat-Zinn (Full Catastrophe Living) will take you through exercises that dampen the left side of the brain. This type of meditation is excellent for overly analytical people (like myself). I've had excellent response from my clients who have studied AND PRACTISED mindfulness meditation. (I'm a psychotherapist) You need to give yourself several months of practice to get the hang of this way of perceiving the world.

John

Stage left, Stehno.