Well after my latest listening session, it really hit home again, that if you want to hear what your system can truly do; then a listening session in the dark is IMHO mandatory
I still wander why this supposed psycho-acoustic phenom is so very evident What is really going on here that brings the system to life so much more in the dark room Also, I wander how many dealers/a'philes realize the benefits of a demonstration in a dark room?
(I'm talking Audio demonstration only for those with wandering minds)
The cortex that controls vision is dominant over audio, which the brain regards as a kind of adjunct or secondary sensorium. When you release it by listening in the dark, then all of the localization powers of the visual apparatus can be deferred to the auditory apparatus without the powerful distraction of direct vision, itself. However, I find that without at least a modicum of visual input i.e. low lights that the experience is not quite as satisfying.
The cortex that controls vision is dominant over audio, which the brain regards as a kind of adjunct or secondary sensorium. When you release it by listening in the dark, then all of the localization powers of the visual apparatus can be deferred to the auditory apparatus without the powerful distraction of direct vision, itself.
That make sense, and confirms an opposite theory I've noticed: When music is accompanied by visuals it sounds better. I've theorized that the brain can't focus fully on both audio and video at the same time, so adding a visual "distraction" tends to minimize flaws in the quality of the music.
Agreed! For some bizarre reason, I prefer to sit with my eyes closed, even when the room is dark! I guess I just find it more relaxing, and can therefore enjoy the music more.
Agree with Dave here, the Guarneris are pretty nice looking speakers, but at night I just ocassionaly turn some indirect lighting just to see where is my scotch glass!
Agreed! For some bizarre reason, I prefer to sit with my eyes closed, even when the room is dark! I guess I just find it more relaxing, and can therefore enjoy the music more.
Good afternoon gentlemen. This thread was created well before I joined the forum but I thought I'd chime in to offer my observations after discovering it today for the first time. Listening in the dark is actually the way I prefer to listen. Complete darkness is best IMO but a few glowing tubes or small, not bright blue matching LED's can give you just the right amount of light needed after 10 or 20 minutes of your eyes adjusting. Part of it may be the lower demand on the grid due to late night listening but IME, most of the pleasure comes from the pure darkness. Like someone else had mentioned, I sometimes also close my eyes whilst listing in the dark. It doesn't bring the spatial locational cues into fruition (unless they are already there in the light) but it can focus things just a little bit sharper.
This is a great time to slap on an LP and listen to it in its entirety.
Picture yourself sitting in front of a friends system with your eyes open. Nice (sonically unfamiliar) speakers. Nice glow of (sonically unfamiliar) amp/preamp/DAC, etc. Nice pictures on the wall. Cool cat in the corner. Hey, this beer bottle is sweating and dripping on my pants.
Now close your eyes and all those distractions go away. The center image becomes more present and the soundstage opens up. The beer bottle is still dripping on my pants, but I bet I can find my mouth with my eyes closed anyway. Hey, that was a great drum fill. The bassist is really nailing it.
Focus is on the music, less on the surroundings. Your personal space has shrunk down to what you are hearing and not what you are seeing. Same happens in the dark, but it is easier to explain why you are sitting with your eyes closed than why a couple of guys are sitting together in the dark listening to (pick your favorite sexy female singer).
I took this picture 8 years ago, and my gear is now different, but my preferred listening is still dim lights....obviously the camera sensor brings out more light than my eyes perceive.
I like to be able to navigate in the room, and dim light allows my mind to relax and a level of comfort. really dark is to me somewhat distracting. for best levels of perception and heightened senses, eyes need to be closed, and dim light allows my mind to not worry about my eyes being closed when I listen. eyes open in a very dark room does not work as well for me.
I like to listen mostly in the dark. If that isn't possible, or during the day, I use something called the Music Mask. It's a thick black foam mask with a black vinyl-like piece over it shaped like a mask with a strap and Velcro to hold on the mask over your eyes. VERY effective. It used to be advertised in the audio magazines but I don't think the Russian maker manufactures them any more. Wish he did. They also have a cutout in the foam over your eyes. I like it with my eyes open in the mask "darkness" and I can "look" at the stage/venue in my mind.
Is it better at night yes. There is just less ambient noise. Is it better in the dark, Hardly once I got room, power, grounds right. I place this audio myth with DBT'S. IMHO, of course.
Two 845's put out enough light for me. I've also used fiberglass panels to completely block out the two windows. The room I listen in also has a short hallway where the door is, so the door is completely blocked from view. Any time of day, I can go in there, fire up some tunes, and listen to music with nothing but the tubes throwing light in the room.
Is it better at night yes. There is just less ambient noise. Is it better in the dark, Hardly once I got room, power, grounds right. I place this audio myth with DBT'S. IMHO, of course.
It's not a myth as such especially if you live in a big city! Besides a myth is something that doesn't exist. But the phenomena does exist, the question just being what are the root causes.
But yes, I can believe if you have the where with all and house to deal with PL issues, then sure you can minimize the day to day and hour to hour fluctuation in sound. But try doing what you did in an apt. Don't also discount that some people have lights etc. on the same line as their audio system and that can certainly affect the sound. (esp. if they are using dimmers.)
And I still believe that there is a component related to vision. Everything we do and every sense we have depends on vision. Try eating blindfolded. Try standing on one leg blindfolded. So why should hearing be a sense that isn't affected by vision?
I have and in the dark too. Not quite the same as being in the dark on both. Something about that blindfold. Now if we are going to listen with blindfolds then I relent.
