The two often mix for me. When adding something new I start in the auditioning mode, if its a good change I just sort of drift into the music mode. Bad changes usually get tossed out pretty quickly so I don't have to stay in the analytical mode for any length of time.
The most difficult changes are the very subtle ones. I can change my listening modes quite often over the evaluation period. These evaluation periods are generally long listening sessions (five to eight hours) over several weeks or even months. Sometimes everything can seem perfect, than some recording I put on brings out something I don't quite like, suddenly I've gone from listening to auditioning.
Often, these subtle changes require other subtle changes, and on and on.... I can be constantly switching between the listening mode or audition mode through all these changes. Actually, I suppose I'm perpetually doomed to be in this mixed mode. Isn't this forever cycling of the auditioning/listening mode the very essence of audiophilia? The non-audiophile can simply stop making changes and be in listening mode forever.
The most difficult changes are the very subtle ones. I can change my listening modes quite often over the evaluation period. These evaluation periods are generally long listening sessions (five to eight hours) over several weeks or even months. Sometimes everything can seem perfect, than some recording I put on brings out something I don't quite like, suddenly I've gone from listening to auditioning.
Often, these subtle changes require other subtle changes, and on and on.... I can be constantly switching between the listening mode or audition mode through all these changes. Actually, I suppose I'm perpetually doomed to be in this mixed mode. Isn't this forever cycling of the auditioning/listening mode the very essence of audiophilia? The non-audiophile can simply stop making changes and be in listening mode forever.