Do you listen to equipment or music.


This Blog got me to thinking about the subject:
https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=6484902156509233383#editor/target=post;postID=191909277...
In the past I have spent hours listening to the same part of the same song just to fine tune various components of the of the audio system. I even move speakers and listen - move them again and listen more. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing. Whatever it is, when I get into this mode, I am not listening to the music.  It would be nice how the community feels about listening to music or equipment.
johnspain
@grekon39

Now that 90% of my listening is from streaming on Tidal, I find myself listening to only part of a particular track, then move on to the next one. When I was spinning vinyl, I would listen to at least one side of an album, then with CDs I would listen to a complete album before changing to another CD.
So I have found that I need to sit back and at least listen to entire tracks, "sides" or, even entire albums again.

Anyone else have this issue?


Oh yeah!

That’s a very commonly expressed "problem" with ubiquitous access to music, even from non-audiophiles.

It totally happened to me. Once I ripped my CD collection and could stream it via iPad control, I really loved the experience. Then I added Tidal as well, so a world of music at the finger tips. But as much as I started with great awe and enthusiasm, it wasn’t long before I noticed exactly what you did: With all that instant access I found myself sampling, sampling, sampling through the music, and often not listening through even an entire song. I’d save songs to favorites fully intending on going back and listening to them. But often enough, because there was so much to explore I’d never get back to listening to the albums and tracks I selected, and would spend the night cruising through possibilities, exploring. As I’ve said before here, what started as enthusiastic exploration turned more in to restless listening sessions.

Getting back in to vinyl is what cured me of this. Once I’ve decided to cue up the system, turntable, select my music, I pretty much always listen to at least a whole side of an album, if not the whole album.
This is re-enforced by the fact that, recognizing I don’t want to spend time skipping tracks only to a few good one on an LP, it changes my buying habits where I’m making sure I actually like the majority of an album before purchasing the vinyl. (E.g. sampling on youtube/discogs etc...I go for some pretty rare stuff that I’d never find on Tidal).

I have this huge collection of ripped CDs, and Tidal, that I rarely get to these days as I’m too busy being thrilled whenever a new record shows up that I’ve ordered and spending a while listening to it.
I'm afraid most of you didn't get the memo... it's ALL about the music.

Equipment can be forgotten in a burst of new music in a millisecond.

Sorry.
If it were ALL about the music I'd still be listening to my 1972 Minimus 7's (hey, they had a lifetime warranty)! 

Can anyone here truthfully say they have never listened to the equipment?  It's highly unlikely--how would you choose one component over another or decide to upgrade?
brucenitroxpro

I'm afraid most of you didn't get the memo... it's ALL about the music.


Apparently you missed the memo too, or did you not notice you joined a web site devoted to audio equipment? 




Both. When I’m tweaking or changing components, I’m listening to the equipment by comparing it with what it sounded like before. When everything is set and I’m not tweaking stuff (rare, but one of my personal goals) I’m listening to the music and enjoying it.