What exactly is critical listening? Who does it?

@bolong ...*G* Probably one of the ’enhancements’ one can apply that costs the least but shifts the ’eq’ within one’s head without redlining a credit card, tensing up over the potential damage of a shipped used component, or the cost of the ’X v Y’ of a new to you device....
I can admit to not having the budget to amuse self with esoterica; my ears absolutely require the aids I insert into my canals every AM...
If I’ve spent the equivalent of a Mac anything into that pursuit, it’s down to having my daily routines achieve some sort of bliss over hearing the bird song of that finch trying his best to find a mate. I missed that way too long over just having to fill the gaps of what was missed listening to a LP or a streamcast....

"Heaven is in your mind."  If if only on a conceptual level, since an afterlife seems like a wish while whistling when walking pass the graveyards.
Does your $100K setup sound better than my $2K pile of various ’n sundry?
Oh, perhaps.  Since it’s unlikely neither of us will have to enjoy/tolerate each others’ collection, it hardly matters in the long run.
Run what you’ve brung, and enjoy....or not.

I’ve better things to do than lose sleep over it....

...but my best to y'all, anyway...J
 

It's just OCD man, pure and simple. Enjoy what you like and forget the rest. 

Right, and don't think critically about anything else -- diet, medical care, car purchases, choice of friends, or anything being done in society. That's all "OCD," too. Just melt into a puddle of knownothingism and ride the wave of blissful ignorance.

kofibaffour

380 posts

06-24-2025 at 06:01pm 

I thankfully don't engage in audiophile nonsense such as "critical" listening. that is such BS it is funny. As if we were in the studio when the recording was taking place. the self fellation that occurs in these circles is comical

Yeah, we get it. You are so much better than all the "audiophiles" you have to share the forum with. Being superior, how do you cope with all the minions? Must be pretty tough.

@baylinor 

You've done amazing work with your room and the diffuser work very interesting. You are very fortunate to live in a very quiet area.

How do you like the Loki?

i Probably need to look into some diffusers.  I rely mostly on the furniture in the room.  

Critical listening is when you listen after you put the distractions away–the phone, the laptop, the book, the Stereophile mag, the rollups, and the whiskey.