Listening in the dark

I-SIG
I-SIG Posts: 2,238
edited April 2004 in 2 Channel Audio
Is it me, or does the sound somehow come alive when you listen in the dark? Closing your eyes doesn't bring it t the same level.

I think it has somehting to concentration. I feel freer to listen, rather than concentraiting on keeping my eyes closed or whatever.

Wes
(I put this hear (pun intended) for the more critcal listening that tends to get done on our big two-channel rigs.)
Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK 42" HDTV | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Wyred 4 Sound STP/SE Pre | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
Post edited by I-SIG on

Comments

  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 27,967
    edited April 2004
    The reason why it is easier to listen to the dark, is you arnt glaring at these black boxes moving air...

    It seems you can sit back and concentrate past examining things!

    I agree with you, when I can I turn off the lights and jam so I can actually enjoy the music!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited April 2004
    CLOSE YOUR EYES












    AND I'LL KISS YOU......................
  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,458
    edited April 2004
    Agreed, the concentration bit pretty much hits the nail on the head. Most important for me though is dead silence, which, in a house of 6 isn't that easy to accomplish most of the time. Not to mention in the dark with 5 sleeping, it's a good way to make the wife have a bad hair day when she gets up.......:eek:
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2004
    I agree. Incondescent light also produce some sort of noise that I can hear.

    Maurice
  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited April 2004
    I'm afraid of the dark.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited April 2004
    It's OK, George... bike zappa is several states away...

    I-sig,
    Same here. We've had discussions here on why. Mostly boils down to cleaner power at night vs. some kind of psycho-acoustic phenom.

    Either way doesn't matter. It's nice to just enjoy...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner

    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited April 2004
    Yep, lights very low or off for serious listening. Something about using hearing as opposed to seeing for me. Sensory perception changes.

    Hell, I cant really say but its all good.
  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,722
    edited April 2004
    I know the properties of light and sound are such that one should not interfere with the other...but I wonder anyway if there's somethere for an explanation?
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2004
    If you are listening to a performance you want to hear the soundstage and depth along with all the other stuff in the recording. It is really tough to imagine a vocalist standing in front of you or to feel like you are somewhere you aren't when visual clues tell you otherwise. I start to loose concentration if it is too dark though.

    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,238
    edited April 2004
    Originally posted by madmax
    I start to loose concentration if it is too dark though.

    madmax

    Start snoozin', eh? ;)

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK 42" HDTV | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Wyred 4 Sound STP/SE Pre | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,408
    edited April 2004
    I use to listen in the dark, but my right channel would go out so I quit.
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,238
    edited April 2004
    Originally posted by hoosier21
    I use to listen in the dark, but my right channel would go out so I quit.

    The right woke up last night! WooHoo!

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK 42" HDTV | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Wyred 4 Sound STP/SE Pre | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,722
    edited April 2004
    whistling in the dark....
  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited April 2004
    Dancing in the dark???
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner

    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,722
    edited April 2004
    Originally posted by Polkmaniac
    whistling in the dark....
    Does anyone remember They Might Be Giants???
  • TechChallenged
    TechChallenged Posts: 106
    edited April 2004
    I never understood the facination with 2 channel audio until I turned off the lights and hit play on Extreme Pornografitti.
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited April 2004
    Should also remove all clothing to maximize effect on body. And get rid of glasses to minimize room reflections.

    :D

    Seriously, I listen in the dark as well....late at nite and at low volume.
  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited April 2004
    Originally posted by Danny Tse
    ....late at nite and at low volume.
    I was thinking about this last night, and the low volume could be part of the equation. Lower volume leading to lower distortion, etc...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner

    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2004
    No,no,no,...
    It has nothing to do with distortion. Your must be completely naked.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D