Do you ever just listen to music

Sure do. The system is is in the living room and is on quite a bit when we're home during the day. Fortunately, there is still a lot of good FM radio here in northern NJ. Call it background music if you must, but it beats having the idiot box TV on all day.

Jaxwired speaks the truth!

here is the truth.

when listening, sometimes one is in the enjoyment mode, while at other times, one notices deficiencies, or aspects of the sound that are not pleasing--the analytic mode.

music can appeal to the head (a lot of bach's harpsichord works, especially the well tempered clavier and the chromatic fantasy and fugue), or it can appeal to the heart.

much musical is symmetrical and mathemtical.

there is a strong correlation between musical talent and math aptitude.

Nonoise, fair enough. Just calling it like I see it.

FWIW, I am more of a gestalt listener. By that I mean I can identify which of two components or recordings I like better, but I am not as good as identifying subtle differences in SQ that result in my overall preference of one over another. Unless of course there are major problems. I usually just sit back and listen (and most often am doing something else at the same time, since I have more than a bit of ADD). I usually have to concentrate really, really hard in order to listen analytically, esp. if I like the music.