Eye-brain effect


Does anyone else think that the eye-brain interaction may have as big (and possibly much bigger) an effect on imaging and soundstaging issues than even the equipment.

For example, when I see speakers a few feet out from the back wall, I am just not able to suspend belief enough to "hear" past the wall. I have trouble imagining a huge orchestra in a 15' wide room. I am very happy with small ensembles in said room and can almost imagine that "they are there". There are times, under those circumstances, when a singer is 6 feet tall and the guitar sounds about the size of the real thing (which I have heard in my living room).
imdoc

Showing 1 response by r_burke

I took this from another forum

TAKE OFF YOUR GLASSES!!!!

Many do not know that the "total" sensory perception of sound is transmitted via more sensory pathways than just the 8th (auditory) nerve.

While I find headphone listening a nice diversion, it it a total "inside your head" experience.

Why?

Because, much sonic information to your body is lost.

Directional cues and sensory perceptions so subtle that you don't know they exist, can and will change the way you hear sound.

The orbital area of the eye socket are filled with "very sensitive" nerve receptors that relay pressure information and sonic perception to the brain. Glasses in front of these nerves block the transmission of these impressions.

I only wear glasses to read, so I am used to putting them on and taking them off. I notice quite a large difference in the sound. More than any cable or tweak.

If you use rather small glasses, the difference may be less, but if you are a good listener, you should hear a difference quite easily.

So if you really want to "see" into the music, ditch the glasses when critically listening, close your eyes (and make sure and "relax" the eyes) and see if this gives you a more real experience.

Somebody later on in the thread accused him of "stealing" the idea from an old stereophile article.

I've been taking my glasses off when doing serious listening for a long time. It seems to help me relax and concentrate on the music, don't know or care about the science behind it.