Sorry to barge in, not active for some time and miss oldtimers like suri. But seeing some budding music lovers genuinely interested (to quote from the old Sound of Silence of Simon and Garfunkel) in speaking without talking and listening without hearing, and sending pm's, a few things to look for in your quest to become a good listener (from my limited knowledge, my hearing is improving but am not young anymore)....
Start with the famous Chesky reference disc (Volume 1) of audiophile explanations and music and listen several times to understand precisely what are imaging, soundstage, focus, resolution etc. In each track, there is an explanation of the specific term highlighted followed by a music track and advice to what exactly to listen to. If your system accomplishes everything, don't waste your money upgrading. Buy music and enjoy. If not, listen to the same in those systems which claim to be better and make your own judgement. The more you listen to this, the better listener you will become. I have not come across another disc so educational.
Most of you must be young and so listen to The Eagles' "One of These Nights" where the song opens with a pattern played by bass and guitar that sounds like a single instrument - the bass plays a single note, and the guitar adds a glissando, but the perceptual effect is of the bass sliding. If you can observe that sort of detail, well, you are there.
I am sure many listen to the old Beatles and choose "Lady Madonna" (the song, I mean). During an instrumental break in this track, the four of them sing into their cupped hands and we will swear that there are saxophones playing because of the unusual timbre they achieve and our own expectation that saxophones should be playing in such a song. Well, if you can distinguish such small small things, you are very much there.
Such small things tell a lot of story rather than debating on trivial things. After all, the world of music reproduction itself is one of illusion and the closer it merges with reality, the greater will be our satisfaction.
Thank you and cheers.
murali
Start with the famous Chesky reference disc (Volume 1) of audiophile explanations and music and listen several times to understand precisely what are imaging, soundstage, focus, resolution etc. In each track, there is an explanation of the specific term highlighted followed by a music track and advice to what exactly to listen to. If your system accomplishes everything, don't waste your money upgrading. Buy music and enjoy. If not, listen to the same in those systems which claim to be better and make your own judgement. The more you listen to this, the better listener you will become. I have not come across another disc so educational.
Most of you must be young and so listen to The Eagles' "One of These Nights" where the song opens with a pattern played by bass and guitar that sounds like a single instrument - the bass plays a single note, and the guitar adds a glissando, but the perceptual effect is of the bass sliding. If you can observe that sort of detail, well, you are there.
I am sure many listen to the old Beatles and choose "Lady Madonna" (the song, I mean). During an instrumental break in this track, the four of them sing into their cupped hands and we will swear that there are saxophones playing because of the unusual timbre they achieve and our own expectation that saxophones should be playing in such a song. Well, if you can distinguish such small small things, you are very much there.
Such small things tell a lot of story rather than debating on trivial things. After all, the world of music reproduction itself is one of illusion and the closer it merges with reality, the greater will be our satisfaction.
Thank you and cheers.
murali
