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For Newbies: how to listen:swaps/changes

Listening to a system component change, or going out to listen to new equipment, can be confusing to someone who hasn't mastered the art. I would like to start a topic that might get others to note just what THEY listen for/ notice when modding/swapping stuff. So newer students of the art of swapping/modding (and auditioning) can learn.
I usually will listen to whatever CD has my attention lately and a few that I especially like. I WILL repeat the same parts (I don't get bored, I actually find more every time I listen) i listen, noting if any "new" sound is 'jumping out at me (a triangle I never notice as such before, or that it suddenly sparkles so dramatically) or if some sound is suddenly totaly recognizable (a tapping on a glass with a spoon!! in a P J Harvey tune). etc..
Also switching BACK and seeing if it really is different... and quitting if your "hearing" gets tired.
Any others with hints???
(I'm NOT listing all my ideas now so we all don't get bored reading just my hints!!!)
elizabeth
no_money
565 posts
 
Paula Jean Harvey, not sure how to describe her. Kind of rock on some stuff, but not what you would expect. Really good musicians on all of her stuff. Maybe Elizebeth can describe better.
dekay's avatar
dekay
2,959 posts
 
I will search for her at the record clubs. One of my reference's is "Kepa Junkera" a double CD set of moderm Basque music that uses many different instruments (lots of percussives, even has bag pipes), also a great female vocal on one cut.
1439bhr
85 posts
 
Another aspect to listening is to note your initial reactions to the sound as well as to your reaction when you aren't actively trying to analyze the sound. That is, spend some time not thinking, just trying to enjoy. It's been my experience that when something is a genuine improvement, I tend to have a strong favorable impression almost immediately. Focused listening tends to reveal the reasons why. And then I know I have a winner when I unconsciously slip into a revelry just enjoying the music. This feeling is confirmed when I feel a sense of loss after switching over to the less desireable alternative. My latest experience with this was auditioning a different brand of speaker cable at home. Rather than go into my analysis of the difference, I'll simply say I wound up purchasing it because my wife and I agreed: the cable gave a "happier sound".
elizabeth OP
6,726 posts
 
P J Harvey is not for the Diva queen set. She is BRUTAL and honest/RAW. She can be totally electrifying. She is one of my favorites. You will either be amazed by her or hate her.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Hi Elizabeth; nice thread. (1) It is absolutely essential for tonal balance to be correct and if it's not, no other listening test makes much sense. (2) I listen to vocals-- either male or female, on music that I am very familiar with. They must sound natural to me, and this is a type of "critical listening". (3) I listen for the character of Pace, Rhythm, and Timing (PRT) in the music. In order to get a good sense of this I have to go into relaxed listening mode. PRT must be natural/exciting and make me want to continue listening to the music. (4) I want to know whether or not the change is fatiguing, and this takes some time, hours at least. Of course all this assumes everything is properly broken in. Cheers. Craig.
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