Concentration

@hilde45 

what do you think of my observation of the difference between classical music listening and other types of music regarding this dichotomy?

@buellrider97 

Hi to you!  
Best wishes for the 4th to you as well. 
I’m really enjoying my system after making some pretty heavy investments on the analog and digital side.  I think I’m done, but you never know.
Very good to hear from you!

I think it’s likely that those who listen to classical music have to concentrate more on the music than others because of the complexity.

@hilde45 

Your analogy is interesting but I don’t think it really works.  We’re talking about a much more complex situation regarding SQ and music.  While it is true we listen to music and sound at the same time, It’s the priority that we give to each that’s the issue. Audiophiles tend to separate the two because of the nature of the hobby. The population at large doesn’t really care about the fine points of sound, so for them the problem seldom exists.its this separation that causes the problem in us. I believe that it’s difficult for us to ignore the sound component as a separate entity.

One other factor is relevant here.  In one way we’re talking about apples and oranges.  As I’ve said, those who listen to classical music generally have to concentrate a little more on to what is going on in the music.  I believe that rock, pop and the like is detected more viscerally and instinctively than classical.
People feel the music rather than think about it.  Of course classical music lovers also feel the music, but there is an added element to their listening.

@hilde45 

Certainly we listen to the sound and the music at the same time.  The point is how much you have to concentrate on the music.  In classical it’s more essential to do so.

@audphile1 

when your in Carnegie Hall of course you’re listening to both.  But when you’re home and listening to your stereo you’re indulging a hobby which involves sound for sound’s sake.  Quite different from a Carnegie Hall experience.

@devinplombier  

“classical is perhaps the only music genre that periodically faces calls to be either removed from the curricula of public universities or to have public subsidy of its study and performance curtailed or ended”

I don’t know where you get your information, but as someone who is in the business I can tell you that it’s far from the truth.

Yes, I agree. Another gratifying  form of listening is letting the music just drift over you.  It’s a different form of enjoyment from intense listening.