I might be crazy but i hear better in the dark

[MarinJim]

I don't know if this has been covered, and/or I am crazy, but I hear better in the dark. My ModWright Oppo 105 has "pure music" where the front panel lights are turned off, and I then turn off my Runco plasma monitor. I think it is pscho-acoustic, but I can concentrate, therefore, hear better in the dark. Any thoughts?

 

[Mosin]

It happens with me, too. They say if you lose one of your senses, the others are heightened. Maybe that's true even when it is only for a little while.

 

[DaveyF]

In the dark I think that the brain's ability to localize sounds is perhaps better. Plus, you have fewer distractions and the music is therefore easier to concentrate on. Or something like that

 

[Mosin]

In the dark I think that the brain's ability to localize sounds is perhaps better. Plus, you have fewer distractions and the music is therefore easier to concentrate on. Or something like that

This would explain why a lot of us are actually able to enjoy YouTube videos. So, if the fidelity sucks, jazz it up with visual distractions. It works for me.

 

[JackD201]

Video did kill the radio star

 

[Bruce B]

The inverse is true as well. Turn off the video in some of these movies and the audio is just terrible!

 

[Mosin]

The inverse is true as well. Turn off the video in some of these movies and the audio is just terrible!

True. I thought I would rip the sound out of the .flv of one of my favorite YouTube videos for a car CD. I couldn't stand it, not even in the car.

 

[LL21]

This is a previous post of mine but applies in general to what you said.

Tonight, we went to a pub to hear an irish band, 4 guys playing hand held drum thingies, squeeze boxes, violins, fiddles, guitars of various sorts, flutes, accordians and bells and stuff.

These guys were totally unamplified. No electronics anywhere. Here is an interesting thing I noticed tonight in that pub room. It was about 40 feet high and at the end of the pub which was maybe 30 feet wide. We were at a table, same height as them and sitting down, and about 15 feet away from them, no one in front of us. And about 30 degrees from dead center, we were closest to the violin player, who was on our left as we faced the group.

Anyway, while I watched and listened, (and unfortuneatly for me always comparing to what stereo can do) I found that while sighted, say the drum for example, the sound came from that fairly specific area of the drum as I saw it, and the same with the violin, although there was some movement in a slight vertical angle depending on how he bowed it, sometimes it got a bit wider on the lower notes.

Anyway, close the eyes, head in exact same spot, same song playing, guess what, now I am very much aware of the echos an reverb, and the drum is now in two places, its originalish spot and somewhere near the wall where it is bouncing off of, and the violin, whoa baby, on some notes that thing extended 4 feet or so in width.

It was eye (ear) opening, the effect of sight on the brains processing of the sound. The brain certainly can refine what the sound is when it is also getting visual stimuli.....but close the eyes, and it has to "open" up to all the info coming in and try to make sense of it as best it can. Just another reminder for me about how much processing is done in the brain or ear/brain interface, and the bias that sight provides. Interestingly, in this case, there was not much height information sighted, but seemed more when not sighted, due to the brain focusing more on the reflections I suppose.

Last edited by tomelex; 02-24-2013 at 06:30 PM.

I have done the same! I think many of us do when listening live...close eyes...compare to system... And i found the same as you. In truth, i tend to prioritize instrument placement, etc last of all when evaluating my system. Not that its unimportant, just that its less of a priority than other keys for me.

 

[jeromelang]

[[ I don't know if this has been covered, and/or I am crazy, but I hear better in the dark. My ModWright Oppo 105 has "pure music" where the front panel lights are turned off, and I then turn off my Runco plasma monitor. I think it is pscho-acoustic, but I can concentrate, therefore, hear better in the dark. Any thoughts? ]]


Yes, whenever you switched off your display devices, your audio only system will sound better.

Most modern display devices are using switching power supplies, also known as switch-mode power supplies (SMPS).
They contain transformers that are very small because they work at 400 KHz or so (50 KHz to 1 MHz).
They are good fits in small spaces because they also generate little heat on their own, and they are cheap to make.
Unfortunately, they generate RF noise from the switching action: the rapid pulse transitions from off to on and back contain lots of harmonics.
Most of these noise get into the AC line - which also feeds your audio-only system.

The other thing is - the TV's switching power supply is still running even when you turn the TV "off".
That's why you can turn it on with the remote control.

this is a cheap solutions:

You could disconnect the display device totally from your power supply when when listening to your music.
This is cheap and effective, but a pain in the neck.

 

[MarinJim]

The inverse is true as well. Turn off the video in some of these movies and the audio is just terrible!

I have Grace Notes with my CD's, and when I turn it off, I (think) hear better. I guess I can focus more.

 

[FrantzM]

Well it seems to be the same for many. You remove the visual clues... you should hear better I think we all can see where this is heading

 

[MarinJim]

Well it seems to be the same for many. You remove the visual clues... you should hear better I think we all can see where this is heading

I hear you.

 

[Mike]

Video did kill the radio star

Thanks! Now I've that bloody awful song in my head...

 

[Mike Lavigne]

personally; i prefer very dim light to pure dark. it's more relaxing and my mind is less engaged. i use 'uplights' behind my speakers with very low wattage (15 watt) bulbs and that seems to be about right for me. i can still navigate in the room and even switch Lps and such and not lose the mood.

pure dark seems to put me on 'alert' to some small degree (evolutionary reaction?) and i don't get the same degree of ease in my brain. and with dim light i don't need to close my eyes tightly, just lay back and get transported to the music.

 

[microstrip]

personally; i prefer very dim light to pure dark. it's more relaxing and my mind is less engaged. i use 'uplights' behind my speakers with very low wattage (15 watt) bulbs and that seems to be about right for me. i can still navigate in the room and even switch Lps and such and not lose the mood.

pure dark seems to put me on 'alert' to some small degree (evolutionary reaction?) and i don't get the same degree of ease in my brain. and with dim light i don't need to close my eyes tightly, just lay back and get transported to the music.

Mike,

I started reading the thread, and was thinking that I would be the bad guy who would break the consensus. Happily, as I prepared to do it you posted, and posted exactly my feelings and a similar lighting setup!

I have two japanese type lamps in the floor behind my speakers. When I want to listen I switch all lights off, except those two that just create a soft light atmosphere behind the speakers, as I have a black acoustic curtain covering the acoustical treatments of the front wall. Listening in the dark also sounds artificial to me - it can be nice with large symphonic works that sound very spacious, but does not engage me in the some way as the low diffuse lighting condition.

 

[Steve Williams]

I installed a Lutron GrafikEye 3000 which allows for 4 scenes in the room. I installed LED rope lighting under the ceiling and above the crown moulding which I dropped 5" from the ceiling. The rope lights are available in many colors. I chose pastel blue which is very relaxing and produces a soft fill in the room

 

[Gregadd]

the myth is when one sense is not operating the other is more acute. If you are an audiophile you are crazy.

 

[microstrip]

the myth is when one sense is not operating the other is more acute. If you are an audiophile you are crazy.

Greg,

OK, I manage to see your point - DBTs should be carried in the dark, in an atmosphere deprived from any scent, eating should also not be allowed for at less 12 hours before and you can not be caressing the dog or the cat while listening ...

 

[vinylphilemag]

I too prefer listening in the dark. With the lights on, I find the sensory input (even with my eyes closed) to be a distraction. With the lights out, that distraction is no longer there so I can fully immerse myself in the music.

 

[Gregadd]

Greg,

OK, I manage to see your point - DBTs should be carried in the dark, in an atmosphere deprived from any scent, eating should also not be allowed for at less 12 hours before and you can not be caressing the dog or the cat while listening ...

DBT should only be in a lab. Listening sessions _whatever floats your boat..