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How do you listen?

I listen to a lot of (classical) music. Most of the time I try to listen at concert hall volumes (really loud) so as to try and recreate the feeling I have  being in the hall.  But  recently I’ve discovered I can get satisfaction listening at moderate levels.  There is a certain relaxed quality to listening this way, and sometimes I think I hear more of what’s in the music.
How do you listen?
rvpiano

Showing 2 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,539 posts
 
Right now I am listening to jazz.. about 75db.

My symphony seats are 8th row center (on aisle on left). The crescendos are too loud. But when there is a soloist the violin sound hole or piano sounding board is pointed at me. This makes the solos amazing and perfectly blended with the orchestra. It also allows different instruments to be clearly discernible while allowing for complete integration when large parts of the orchestra play simultaneously. Also, my line os sight is above the stage so I can see the players.  So, very occasional over saturation these are the perfect seats in the house. 
The general rule is 7th row center, but over time I found these a tad too close in symphony hall I attend.
ghdprentice
7,539 posts
 
I spent a bunch of time trying to determine if there was a “right” volume (for classical). I attend the symphony regularly. I found there generally is. You want the passages which begin quietly from total silence with single quiet instrument to be audible and the crescendos of the full orchestra to reach saturation (my seats are 7th row center). So with those boundaries I adjust my system to listen to classical.

I typically listen to other music arround 70db unless it is rock then a bit higher.
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