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Post by MartinT on Apr 5, 2015 22:34:55 GMT
Do you listen to music with your eyes open or shut?
(no, I don't mean while driving...)
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Post by MartinT on Apr 5, 2015 22:35:47 GMT
I prefer to listen with my eyes shut as I want no visual input.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 5, 2015 23:12:22 GMT
I used to shut my eyes, but nowadays I'm so bleedin' knackered all the time that if I shut them, I fall asleep almost instantly - and that includes during live performances!
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Post by davidf on Apr 5, 2015 23:41:41 GMT
If the room is pitch black, I'll keep my eyes open, but otherwise I listen with my eyes closed. With your eyes closed, and your mind lost in the music, you soon forget about the room boundaries, which massively opens up the soundstage of your system, rendering your speakers truly transparent. Or maybe it's just me...
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Post by John on Apr 6, 2015 5:44:42 GMT
Mostly eyes open but sometimes I close my eyes helps me to focus more but like Chris I can fall asleep if I do this
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Post by Tim on Apr 6, 2015 7:44:28 GMT
Needs another option for me as it depends entirely on the location, the type of music or what I'm doing? I have music playing most of the time when I'm not at work. Solo Emily Barker is soothing me right now.
Live classical, mostly shut Live jazz, open Live acoustic seated, 50/50 - depends on the artist, how well I know their music and how many times I have seen them previously Live rock (seated or standing), open (you wouldn't want your eyes shut for a Steven Wilson show!). Live other music if standing, open, as I fall over! Whilst cooking, open! Watching/listening to music videos, open Seated doing nothing at home, mostly shut for classical or if I'm concentrating on a new purchase, often shut. I often read and have music playing, as it helps me get into the book more. Headphones, mostly shut (unless I'm reading lyrics)
Rest of the time, open - it really depends on too many variables for me, so I can't vote. Unlike a lot, I'm not one that does nothing but concentrate on the music whilst sitting in front of the stereo at home. To me that seems like you are listening to the sound of the system more than getting into the music itself. I 'experience' music, rather than just listen to it.
I like to read the lyrics a lot whilst listening to music, trying to get inside the artist's head really helps me connect with the music and why they wrote it. I listen to singer/songwriters mostly these days, so the lyrics are an integral part of the overall experience.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2015 8:22:46 GMT
I think this may be a factor in differing tastes and experience when it comes to system choices. If anyone remembers my thread on perception and sensory filters, it would follow that use (or not) of other senses will affect how we process sound.
In my own lifetime, my tastes were transformed when I changed the way I listen. It was actually the Linn tune-dems that led me to focus on other aspects of music which I felt were better achieved eyes open. I found that my former "eyes shut" approach was a bit of an exercise in concentration rather than an enjoyable experience. Suddenly the flat earth equipment became attractive to me and anything that had poor rhythmic ability just lost its attraction, however well it performed spatially or tonally.
For me, this was an important learning experience. I already held the belief that individuals perceived sound differently. Discovering that my own tastes would change when I changed the way I listened was a revelation. I'm not saying any one way is better and never would. I do feel that exploring other ways of listening can be fun though and it can change not only what equipment we use but also perhaps what music we lean towards.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 6, 2015 9:03:37 GMT
Tim, you made me laugh. Of course, I was thinking of listening to your system but as you say there are so many different ways if listening. I virtually never close my eyes at concerts, I guess I'm there for the visual spectacle. At home, I find it easier to recreate a sound-picture in my mind with my eyes closed.
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 6, 2015 9:20:35 GMT
Shut as often as possible for me Another option is listening in pitch black with eyes open
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Post by Sovereign on Apr 6, 2015 15:18:51 GMT
I almost always listen late at night in the pitch black with a drink near by. Most of the time I listen with my eyes closed, however if I really want to listen with intent I open my eyes. I don't know why but I seem to be able to place instruments better with my eyes open.
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