• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Listening to music in the dark?

vincei

vincei

aka MasterControlMedia
Not sure if this has been brought up before, but does anyone else do it? I was first brought to this practice at a high end audio show about 15 years ago and have since been doing it from time to time when I do critical listening. It seems to lessen distractions, and in my case, cut down on the extra heat generated by the lighting in my listening room. Another positive side effect of "dark room" listening is the lovely light from glowing tubes or meters in my system! :music:
 
Register to hide this ad
I've done it a couple of times. The first time I did it for effect (ie; not falling asleep with the radio on) was on suggestion of a member while listening to "2112". And man, it was neat. Sure, it'd be the same music either way, but sitting in the dark, I could focus on the music rather than staring at the cobwebs and junk around the room.

My room has poor lighting anyhow, gets in the way alot, actually. I really like listening in the dark, only wish I could do it more often:yes:
 
Try it in the dark with a color organ connected to the stereo. Red lights flash to the bass, blue lights flash to the treble, and green lights flash to the midrange, at least that's the way mine is set up. :thmbsp:
 
cademan said:
Try it in the dark with a color organ connected to the stereo. Red lights flash to the bass, blue lights flash to the treble, and green lights flash to the midrange, at least that's the way mine is set up. :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

I used to do that many years ago, I had a little "disco" set up with color organs, chasers, strobes, ect...it was cool some of the effects I came up with. Then again, it did make it pretty hard to concentrate on the music when you had 10 strobes blaring at you. :D
 
cademan said:
Try it in the dark with a color organ connected to the stereo. Red lights flash to the bass, blue lights flash to the treble, and green lights flash to the midrange, at least that's the way mine is set up. :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

My grandmother has a set of color organs i've been dying to try out...i'm very much a sucker for light effects. I bet a color organ is really cool in a dark room:yes:.

I've quite admired this one for some time. I have a feeling a color organ would be somewhat a distraction, but in some ways, could provide a very different experiance that A)just listening and B)listening in just the dark (no lights at all). Now all I need is a good prog album, and i'm set:smoke::D
 
I found in the dark I was more able to place or hear the musicians locations across the soundstage...this only seems to work with good recordings though. Being able to look at the speakers seems to distract my sense of hearing. Maybe that's why blind people have better senses
 
I find it easier to do A/B testing in the dark, less distraction so I tend to focus better.
 
I listen in the dark sometimes, but I generally sit back with my eyes closed for those types of listening sessions. You get the same effect :).
 
I like the lights off better. It lets your imagination open up when you cant physically see and it makes the music that much more immersive.
 
I've spoke here (somewhere...) about listening exercises I did in junior high band with phasing and unison attack concerning the deprival of the sight mechanism and its heightening (enhancing of) the auditory mechanism. Made sense then (1971), works for me now in many listening contexts (critical 2-channel listening, live stage performance, nearfield monitoring, you name it).
 
I have done this my whole life. In fact, I almost go into a sort of trance - no kidding. It isn't really sleeping, because I am still aware of what is going on, but everything except the music is pushed way, way back into the background. I was in heaven when I purchased my first multidisc player!

Now, if I want a visual display, I will use the screen saver algorithm from windows media player on my Xbox 360. It is really cool in hidef on a big, plasma screen.

I almost always audition new music in the dark.
 
vincei said:
Not sure if this has been brought up before, but does anyone else do it?
Click to expand...
Oh yes. I used to listen to music in the dark all the time. Even a glowing vacuum fluorescent display is nice to look at. :D

I still do so from time to time.
 
used to

We used to listen in the dark a lot back in the day.
It was usually a very smoke filled room (hint hint nudge nudge).
It REALLY sounded good.
:D

Seriously, sitting quietly in the dark and listening is probably a great way to relax and focus on the music. I love listening while taking a nap in a dark room. Just as I pass in and out of "awake" the music gets very clear and clean. Works for me. The voices in my house and in my head shut up.
:D

OK, ok, sorry. Just in a mode today. I do love turning the lights out when I have the tubes glowing of have a particularily pretty silverface all lit up and enjoying the "glow".
 
OK, so I did this tonight. I noticed a few things... I listened to Rush - Moving Pictures. I noticed that Every song from side one is a hit, and that almost every song from side two is not. although every song is very good, It makes me think that people where lazy and did not flip there Records. also I noticed that I heard each individual instrument a lot better. it was very cool doing this, and i will for sure do it again.
 
May be related. I just heard a story on NPR saying that studies have shown that a persons sense of taste was heightened in a quiet setting as opposed to a noisy setting. Had to do with distractions. I expect hearing/seeing is the same. Turn the lights out and concentrate on the music.
 
I listen to music in the dark quite often but usually wearing headphones. I used to listen to FM a lot late at night/early morning but invariably fell asleep. I'd often wake up & end up buying the music that I woke up to - subliminal suggestion I suppose. The best one, I'll never forget, was waking up to Free Bird on John Peel's programme in the early 70's. I asked for Leonard Skinnard in the record shop the next day & they found it but not spelt like that!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom