Concentration

Another great question. I find listening to music very rewarding in three ways. The most profound first.

1. Lights off, eyes closed. Opening my mind as in mindfulness meditation. Not focusing on the music... letting it in and emotionally connect. In a mental state somewhat like emptiness. For those not familiar with Mindfulness. I highly recommend the WakingUp.com web site. Sam Harris’s (Phd in neuroscience) site has a two week free intro... fifteen minutes a day for two weeks. No religion... but training on how to stop the constant stream of thoughts and let experience in. Incredibly worthwhile, even if you do not pursue beyond this. Let the music in and experience it. If anyone doesn't know what I am talking about... I highly recommend trying this. For an incredibly  small investment of time you can change your perception in a very positive way. 

2. More what I think you mean. Lights off, eyes closed and let your minds eye focus on the music... mover around in it. Experience it. 

3. While doing something. I paint and use my headphones every day. The music satisfies some real strong subconscious need allowing my to concentrate on painting. Working I used to use it to help my solve complex problems... it really facilitates it for me. I both enjoy the music... while not at all listening to it, and focusing my analytical side on something else. Great way of doing stuff. 

@rvpiano 

Depends on what you’re listening to. It’s most likely easier to concentrate on music when listening to classical, especially symphony. If you’re listening to acoustic jazz it’s easy to involuntarily shift attention to evaluating tone and how each instrument sounds. Listening to Leonard Cohen you want to focus more on lyrics with music being close second in importance. So it’s not a question that can be easily and the answered in my opinion. Too many variables. 

Happy 4th to you and everyone on this forum!!!

@pindac 

rEalLy?

Totally agree with you. I’ve definitely had moments where I was multitasking and thought something sounded off, only to sit down later, really listen, and realize everything was fine. Giving the music your full attention makes a huge difference. it’s like you hear things you’d completely miss otherwise. It’s easy to blame the gear when you’re not really engaged, but most of the time it’s just your brain being elsewhere.

This is second thread I've seen in recent days concerning listening modes. I find it incredible that audiophiles claim they don't listen to sound and furthermore find it an inferior listening mode. Tonight was my first listening session with newly purchased Audio Note Quest 300B monoblocks, I was most certainly listening to the sound and I had a most enjoyable listening session. I now have three SET amps to choose from, each with unique sound qualities that are totally engrossing. I continue to find it amazing that audiophiles purposely ignore the sound of their audio systems, seems like it totally defeat the whole purpose of this endeavor. 

I can understand how taking an analytical approach may lead to dissatisfaction , but can't that perspective also lead to an appreciation or admiration of sound quality. How can a qualitative appreciation of sound be an inferior mode of listening when it brings you closer to the musicians and the music they're bringing to us. I can't help but notice how the musicians appear to be in my listening room, minus a high.y resolving, transparent system I'd not have this experience, the sound of my system never loses it's salience for my senses.