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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? 

 

 

erik_squires
toddalin's avatar
toddalin
678 posts
 

Ah, and I only put 27 profiles (3^3) in my crossovers.  Guess I’ll just have to miss out. frown

bassbuyer's avatar
bassbuyer
921 posts
 

Interesting post thanks.  I believe critical listening when shopping for or comparing equipment sets me up for listening for pure enjoyment later.  

jji666
665 posts
 

Is it possible both could be valid and simply represent dual vectors by which a love of music can be explored?

I’m definitely a music first person, having just come off 2 back to back 4 hour drives listening to the standard system in my GMC truck. I was singing to the tunes the whole way back and never once was my thought "this doesn’t sound resolving enough."

But that doesn’t stop me from getting up off the couch to change the DAC or the amp. 

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
6,054 posts
 

Why would a reviewer need to learn to listen that well if it was not pertinent to the listener?

lanx0003
2,005 posts
 

This is another overthinking post.

I don’t tell my ears or brain what to listen for or what to ignore. They naturally and unconsciously detect differences, and I simply follow up by rolling components to make the listening experience better, according to my taste. There’s always a feedback loop between me and my system as I work toward improving the sound.

This process doesn’t make me enjoy the music any less. If anything, it enhances my enjoyment, whether consciously or unconsciously.

At first, a mountain is just a mountain, and water is just water.
Then, a mountain is no longer just a mountain, and water is no longer just water.
Finally, a mountain is once again a mountain, and water is once again water.

I think you’re overthinking the issue in the 2nd stage, IF (and only IF) it is an issue at all.

 

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