Are we training our ears right?
This subject comes up a lot, and degenerates into questions about what the human brain/ear mechanism is capable of hearing.
I want to instead discuss what we should be listening for.
Too many of us (myself often included) treat audio gear as it's own goal. We train ourselves to hear differences for no other reason than to hear differences. I got started ages ago in motion picture audio. Think 1,500 seat auditoriums, not home theater. I was constantly paying attention to dust on the film and crackling in the surround. I often couldn't tell if a movie was good or bad because I was trying to clean the film or trace down equipment which was malfunctioning. It's a terrible way to enjoy movies.
Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that you can train yourself to hear differences in a fuse. WHY would you do that? How does that let you enjoy the 45th live recording of the Grateful Dead's Truckin' ? The neighbor who 100% cannot hear a difference in fuses is going to enjoy your stereo better than you can.
I'm going to argue that learning to listen to equipment this well is for manufacturers and reviewers. Maybe we are trying to outdo them, I don't know, but it's not a road that leads us to enjoying music, is it?
What I know is that the more I can "hear into the music" (e.g., detail, imaging), the more I enjoy it. But then, I worked in a professional capacity preparing, proof-reading, and editing technical studies for a living. And I was very good at it. At one time I even had my eyes trained/calibrated to read smoke. |
After changing components, I’m wondering how many initially focus on the positive changes, but ignore the negative ones. Also wondering if the negative overall sonic result after changing a component might be revealing of other weaknesses in their audio chain rather than just that component.
Not necessarily to hear differences, but to hear sonic improvements for the money invested. |
I am a photographer by training and practice (a BFA and a MFA in photography). When I was very young, I tried to know everything about photography (and thought I did). I understood the chemistry, the optics, how camera bodies worked, and all the relevant principles of traditional photography. When I got to art school, wise professors successfully got me to understand the difference between the means, and the end. I really don't care about photography equipment anymore - though I own great equipment, and use it everyday. I am not a gear head in that medium at all.
But I guess I need to express that equipment-centric view somewhere, and so audio allows me to indulge the equipment side - and that is enjoyable. But I have been trying to do for myself what my art school teachers did for me way back when - make it more about the musical art than it is about the equipment. On most days lately, I have been successful. And when I want to read about a new SPU cartridge, that's all good, too.
David |
@dtorc "...When I got to art school, wise professors successfully got me to understand the difference between the means, and the end."
Great lesson. |
