Critical listening and altered states

@sns  I can think of at least one pretty persistent irritant for what I believe to be timbre issue, and that is massed violins

Glad you mentioned that. It has become my first reference point for judging a system's (and recording's) quality. So often, they are just a blur.

We would understand each other well , we had done similar things using different paths and solutions for different system in completely different room, but  we know the importance of acoustics control...

I  had used in a smaller room than you a big grid of distributed and localized Helmholtz resonators  (The cheapest one to experiment)...

 Schumann generators, which i used till today in my new system (only 2), are cherres on a cake...Positioning them is key...

They gave an "aura" to the sound volume in space and make the soundstaging more fluid...it was evident in my first dedicated larger room, when i put them off  one by one the "aura" vacillate and disappeared...

To reiterate, maximizing sound staging, imaging is extremely important for my ability to easily enter higher levels of ASC, immersion into the sound field meaning stimuli emanating from behind listening position is key.

@newton_john 

Even just listening to music for some people is sufficient to induce altered states of consciousness. No stimulants are needed.

Sure. Perhaps I misunderstand, but it seems to me, this would be evident to most here. Isn’t this, after all,why music lovers listen? 

Musical absorption is being in altered states of consciousness. As I posted above in the words of AI.

OK, but there are many flavors of altered states.

@hilde45 

"Small doses" was actually what I meant by "precise".  I never assumed you were talking about getting wasted. Having read your posts for years, that never occurred to me. 

@mahgister 

Thanks for expanding on the topic of "perception as a creative act". 

Now, another question:

I knew my acoustical optimization of my AKG K340 hibryd was done well when i cranked up the highs  with tone controls and equalization because the violin sound  was enebriating like an angelic silk thread..

I’m confused. I know you are as aware as I am that a violin, in person, can sound very strident -- quite the opposite of "angelic".  So, why offer this as evidence of having optimized your headphones "well"? 

I’d just like to say, I find this thread a very stimulating discussion. Much more interesting than talking about gear, although I recognize that has its place. 

Been in there long enough for kitty, too.... ;)

@mahgister 

Thanks for expanding on the topic of "perception as a creative act". 

Now, another question:

I knew my acoustical optimization of my AKG K340 hibryd was done well when i cranked up the highs  with tone controls and equalization because the violin sound  was enebriating like an angelic silk thread..

I’m confused. I know you are as aware as I am that a violin, in person, can sound very strident -- quite the opposite of "angelic".  So, why offer this as evidence of having optimized your headphones "well"? 

 

I’d just like to say, I find this thread a very stimulating discussion. Much more interesting than talking about gear, although I recognize that has its place. 

I like my K340 so much because being hybrid with a 4,000 Hertz crossover, the two cells work in the mids but the dynamic one from the deep bass higher and the other from the highs to the mids lower...They had an acoustic dual chamber inside then with 5 tuned Helmholtz resonators.The only headphone design as this.

Then the medium are so unique and natural...

It takes me 6 months of reading and experimenting to understand how they work even reading the patent created by Dr. Gorike their designer and founder of AKG a physicist by formation fascinated by acoustics not an engineer...

Why did i dislike all headphones so much , i tried all types, many dynamics, 2 planars et 2  electrostatic...

i dislike them because they sound unnatural generally the mids timbre is unrealistic and artificial... No deep bass  and no natural highs...And very important : no out of the head soundfield experience ( the K340 with many classical recording especially gave me that )

The bass and the Highs  are very limited on most headphone because a singular cellular membrane of any types work not so well to capture bass resonating in your body and highs celestials sweet as honey and seemingly  extended not appearing  with a  roll off ...( The fact that my hearing is not near my 20 dont change the idea and experience, only the perceived frequencies level where the high peaks and roll off)

 A violin played by a not so much great violonist on a not so much great violin yes may sound strident...

But some top artist in Vivaldi Bach or Mozert plays so well that hearing their note tonal microdynamis on a very resolving system with a great acoustic, which is what the K340 gave me, i entered heaven...

Before the K340 i never even on my speakers (Tannoy) or the others less sophisticated one, i never enjoy violin as much... Often stridence, sibilance, acoustic stress at high volume... I was more a bass head in a way...

But with the K340 i cannot be tired of listening the Arte of violin by Locatelli which is almost violins only non stop for hours (3cd). On a bad system in a non controlled room it must be strident and very tiring...

On my K340 it is celestial syrup of the most ethereal kind...Like a set of  colors distillation at the limit of the visible spectrum flowing and flying ...

I own a CD of a Polish version of the 4 seasons of Vivaldi  on Tacet, "tube recording only", i cannot be tired of listening it, the violins and especially the solos with the deep bass of the cello create an altered state of consciousness..

the mark of a high end system, the ultimate after having natural timbre, deep bass, spatial localisation of all instruments with their holographic individual tonal volume in space, is the higher frequencies rainbow arc...

I never experienced it on speakers because my system was never "high-end" even in my extraordinary well controlled room.

But my actual system of choice even if i can use small speakers well embedded acoustically which i modified, my system of choice the only high end one i ever had (quality of gear design) is the K340 driven by the Sansui alpha...

The most difficult and the LAST factor  to get not only right but very good and celestial  is the higher range of frequencies on speakers but especially on headphone... The only headphone i know which is good is the K340... I am not frustrated at all because it will cost me a lot to beat them with speakers...