Whole new world

This is the same for all of us......when you cup your hands, you're 'capturing' the sound and you feel more immersed _in_ it; not unlike the effect of wearing headphones. 
Now, if one does this in a room that has been treated as close to perfection as possible (!) would the effect remain the same?
Who knows?
Who cares?!
I dunno nuttin'......... ;-)

Just did it for awhile a few minutes ago. Have been doing it for years when a section of the music comes along and maybe I want to hear it a bit louder, but just for a moment. 

 The classical piece that I am listening to now has such a dynamic range, it makes it difficult to know where to set the volume, so I do the ear thing every now and then.

Appreciate the responses.  I was really taken aback yesterday on the difference.  I’ve been playing around a little more tonight and while it certainly increases the volume it makes it sound “ artificial” which makes sense.   Our ears are not designed to pick up that much of the high frequency range compared with the non-directional lower frequencies.  
 

I’m feeling a little better about it than I was last night.  Enjoying the music how my ears are intended to hear it. :-) 

Just before making even more audio investments I had my hearing tested at Costco hearing aid center (it's free).  Not a bad exercise; I'm normal for age; I guess Led Zeppelin in my teens did less damage than I thought. 

Hearing technician did suggest professional ear canal cleaning for my left ear.  She said ear wax build up is common in adults and you won't feel or notice it.  So I went in to a local ear clinic and for a $100 the results were pleasantly noticeable. Improved sound detail and conversation detection.

Maybe testing and cleaning is worth the effort, if not just for peach of mind. 

On a lighter note there was a guy I knew who insisted that his system sounded better if he wore a particular tie pin.