When Everything Comes Together

In 40 years of this hobby it has been impossible to consistently attain a perfect listening session every time. Imo, the variables of time, inclination, pain/or not, distraction, tiredness, maybe even barometric pressure, and other hard to isolate variables impinge on the listening often. 

I have done enough system building and comparisons of systems to conclude that it's not something magical happening with the gear (There will be some who insist that the electrical grid/power is shifting, and I'm not thinking of debating that here; there's plenty of threads about that). Others may disagree, but after building hundreds of rigs and getting similar experiences for decades, I think I have a baseline for comment. 

I stopping trying to have the perfect session long ago, expecting that a nice session is a good result, but if it's better, it's a gift. The one variable that has led the most to my greatest satisfaction in listening has been...
reading. I tend to be analytical of the music, but when I read I distract my analytical self and can relax with the music. I suggest it to persons who find themselves obsessing over the sound. BTW, I love analyzing music and systems for their distant attributes, as evidenced in deep dive reviews at Dagogo.com for 14 years. It is stimulating but not relaxing. When I want to relax, I grab a book, preferably not electronic.  

I do not operate in your genre of music typically, but I offer this; if you have never heard harder rock done on acoustic instruments, then you may like it. The one that I have used for assessment of systems is Apocalyptica's "Enter the Sandman". It's very edgy, and if the strings are making my ears bleed, then I know the treble needs moderating. There are some interesting instrumental groups/artists. Last night I was listening to Peter Gabriel's "Secret World" ((I still have to scan the lyrics for suitability), but was reminded that I have a different version of it, entirely instrumental, by a group (I think really an individual or duo) called Talesin Orchestra. I suspect it will be nauseatingly uninteresting sounding to you, but I rather like the instrumental remake of such works as Secret World. It's great that we have a cornucopia of artists that now we can play works with or sans lyrics. Imo, that, too, is a big factor in it all coming together.  :) 

@bacclagg: 

"It was all about the music and my system completely disappeared. I love this hobby!"

It's your choice whether to focus on the system or the music.

Douglas,
What you said really struck a chord with me. I nearly always listen while reading a book or article, and as you say, I'm able to give the music attention without being analytical. Some friends have asked me how that's possible but it works for me, and it also keeps me from drifting off to sleep. 

@douglas_schroeder

It's interesting that you mentioned barometric pressure. Yesterday afternoon a cold front came through and I was on the cold side of the front when listening. Cool air and low humidity after a sultry afternoon. Maybe that affected my mood more than the equipment, but whatever it was I liked it!

I wish i had more of these perfect listening sessions myself.  It isn't always that all things fall into place.  You would think they would, but they don't.  Same gear, same music, same room...then different results.

@ shtinkydog

I've had sessions like this happen at 1:00 in the morning or 2:00 in the afternoon. When it all comes together it is special. I have also had sessions that I have ended after a few songs because it just wasn't happening.

@baclagg:  I've done the same thousands of times.   I'll plan out the time, the music and the wine and hold my breath.  So disappointed when it doesn't happen.  But like you said, when it does, WOWWW.  I always blame it on my ears and try to backtrack as to what i did that day that would lead up to the disappointment. 

Wow what great name.

When it works, it's great. When it doesn't I move on to doing other stuff. 

OP the weather change also prompted a change in beverages too. 
Hot tea vs whatever? How you feel what you smell what you're looking at who you're with? It makes a difference. I have to remember to take my hat and glasses off.

Warm Tea.. Late night, low ambient noise level, cleaner grid. WAY less WiFi traffic. Roads here are busy from 4:30 AM until 9:00 PM and then it get quieter. By 1:30 am it's as quiet as it's going to get Period!!!

1:30-4:30 AM is pretty good. Cooler too.. 

Dog is always right by my foot.. She's not there it's usually not the best session. Perfect amount of dampening right where she stays. LOL
JRT fluffy girl..

The PERFECT thing God made.. Dogs. He did forget the volume knob though.. Little turd.. :-)

Regard

Those are special events. I have an extraordinary love for music in much of the same genre. And I can say that since I have addressed many power issues with my system, I have a LOT of great listening sessions. But always? NO! And I DO KNOW what you are speaking about. My wife and I both experienced it some years back where both of us stayed up til 3am, despite having to work the next day. The only othjer experience I've ever had that way was a "religious experience" at a Fishnet festival back in the '80's. Ya just don't want to leave. I can only say it happened once. But it was unforgetable

We've all been there and it's difficult to explain. Maybe the stars are aligned or our ears are especially clean or the power grid is open or maybe we're just more receptive to the music. Sometimes I sit down with a good book and if the book holds my attention over the music, I put on CDs. If the music trumps the book, I play records. The bad thing about those special sessions is I hate to turn things off because I know it will be lost the next day.

Any chance there was some THC involved?  Always takes the musical experience to the next level for me.  Been that way for the past 50 years.  

The next level?

Yes, the floor where they keep all the potheads.

+1 for THC-enhanced listening sessions!  Snide pothead comments aside, it adds a depth and attentiveness to my listening experience that really enriches my life. It's nice living in a legal state.
Just my $.02/YMMV

Drinking invariably improves my listening sessions. Everything sounds better when I'm spinning a good cabernet in a nice glass. ;)

A lot of that has to do with warmup time and the power grid your system will sound better after hours of time playing and usually the drain on the power grid is less at night so after you have listened for awhile the sound will continue to get better and expand and bloom with the hours of playing time.

   Obviously, responses from those living in weed legal states. But, there is a lot to be said about listening experiences. Mood plays a big part. Whether it's a nice drink, a good smoke, or just a quiet time, mood is the factor when you've listened to a certain recording at one time and didn't appreciate it as much as another time.
   Whatever factors create that certain "mood" relish them when they come. BTW.....My state recently legalized weed. Perhaps I can capture more of those moods I had long ago?

Obviously, responses from those living in weed legal states.

I just read a 1.6 Billon dollar bust in Sothern Ca. Total BS of course 50 million IF they could get it to market..

My point is GROW 5 trillion dollars worth and sell it to CHINA.. Who the Hell cares.

Still chasing pot heads. God what a waste of money and what a cowards law... Catch murders and rapist of women and MEN... Again your tax dollars at work.. F&#Ken stupid..

@jrpnde, you have to work on & with that last sentence... ;) *L*

*sigh* Nonlegal state, but one does what one used to...pleasant enough for entertainment, but Serious Listening Hours?

no

Too easy to distract ones' intentions....*L*  Especially with current product much improved over what one may remember....

But you're got the gist of it... 👍✌

Interesting topic and one that I have been considering for some time. I have found that your state of mind has more of an effect on the listening experience than many an equipment change. Some days the music sounds just OK and other times it is presented in all its glorious, highly detailed, 3D soundstage. I've learned to live with it and enjoy those good times when they occur. One thing that has become a constant, however, is the fact that my system must have been on AND playing music for about 2 hours before I can even hope for a religious experience despite the fact that my electronics are always in a standby mode. I generally throw on a CD, let it play in repeat mode and return to my room later in the day for any serious listening. I believe it has to do with the capacitors "forming". Perhaps someone more knowledgeable could enlighten us on this.

It's Saturday, and I am confident that later this evening, after a hit or two on the pipe, my system will sound the best it has to offer.  This is a very repeatable condition, as proven every Saturday night.  It's been that way since my very first audio system, at age 18.  Back then, however, it was most nights not just Saturday night...LOL

Some will say your "Cleaner" night time a/c is the reason.
Maybe a little. I have to believe that our bodies, ears etc
have different "Settings" at different times. What changes these settings has yet to be discovered. This is not a scientific explanation I admit but this is what I experience. Sometimes my system sounds fantastic but sometimes I say "what is so special about my gear"? Can make you a little crazy. 

Like oldhvymed, my best serious listening isoften when all my dogs join me (two golden retrieves and a yellow lab).  Best part is they never argue with me about what to listen to.  I always laugh when I see ads saying “no pets.”  Such a shame.  Dogs are the superior species….

I'm experiencing those "moments' all the time now after my latest acquisition (speaker cables). Everything sounds so right, all the time. 

I know it when I find myself drifting off to la la land, experiencing a kind of zen relationship with the music. With these cables, I have that experience all the time. I'm starting to drift off by the second track. 

My analytical approach is gone and it's all musical appreciation. I used to have a slight trepidation before listening and it's no longer the case. I've started to listen less than I used to as there's no more impetus to listen for faults to cure. I know it's there when I want to listen.

I've even put off getting a new integrated for awhile and could end up with what I now have until it burns out and quits on me. Yes, this hobby can be fun, especially when it all comes together.

All the best,
Nonoise

Interesting post OP.   Agreed that when I stop focusing on the minutiae (did that vocal sound harsh for a second) and let the music wash over me as one I tend to enjoy much more.  THC as an extraneous variable is obvious.  I also notice when I leave it for a week or more and come back I tend to appreciate it more.  

Critical listening can if you are not careful develop into audiophilia nervosa, the inability to turn off the evaluator in order to relax and enjoy what you have put together. There was a phase where I was so obsessed I was changing the metal studs that connect the Cones to the speakers. Not the Cones, the metal studs inside the Cones. Called a friend up to say you know the effect demagnetizing has on CDs? Yeah. Did you notice it slowly fades away within about 8 to 10 minutes? What the..? (It does.) On and on like that.  

What's funny is around this time I was also beginning to seriously question whether it was worth making any additional improvements, as it seemed there was nothing more there in the signal to be recovered. From here on out it was bound to be ever more depressingly revealed recording flaws.  

Could laugh myself silly thinking about that. Because this was 20+ years ago, my system now is so much better it blows my mind, and far from being depressed by flaws I am continually amazed how much better everything sounds. 

There's definitely nights when the stars align, the mood and the vibe and the system and I somehow automatically know just the right one to play next. Those moments remind me of the old VISA ad: priceless.