How do you listen?

I admit to sometimes following librettos when I listen to opera or lieder. Liner notes are often enlightening (and, ahem, fun), too. Petting the cat. Reading stereo magazines & high-end mail order catalogues to fuel my profligate tendencies and to chuckle at the hype. Ignoring the television blaring in the other room.  Ignoring phone calls. Doing hardnosed, hard-eared critiques of what I'm listening to. The tutties are too fruity! Is that original instrument ensemble purposely trying to sound sour? Why doesn't the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields get more respect? Sweeter string tone has never existed! Fist pumping. Dancing. Air-guitaring along with the Ramones. Gazing at the sunset through my window.

I guess I'm guilty of being proper audiophile. Total involvement with music is my only mode, performers in room sound quality and my music  choices just naturally invoke this frame of mind, no work required.

I leave multi tasking for music listening at work and car. And I don't have problem enjoying music with lesser sound quality, just lack the total involvement I get with main system. Late night sessions in totally blacked out dedicated room and a bit of bourbon also don't hurt!

OP, the question I think worth asking is: do you think music is worth your attention? and Do you want to leave this earth having never given yourself over to one of the deepest experiences one can have?

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Seriously. Don't waste time with distraction. You never know. Live deeply, now.

Sevastan, if your system does not totally involve you in the music then you have work to do. It should not be an effort to be only involved in the music. Do you go to concerts? It should be like going to a concert except better. You don't have far to do to get to the bathroom:-)

Things that can make listening even more amazing are; closing ones eyes, turning out the lights, putting the kids in front of a Disney movie in another room and THC in moderate amounts. Vaping is more controllable.

Had a blind cat named "Noodles" and her hearing was so extreme I saw her whack a fly out of the air with one swipe....she also had the admirable ability to sit at peace in one position for hours. Perhaps I need to tap into my inner felinity.