Critical listening and altered states


Ok, this is not a question about relaxing, but about listening to evaluate how the system (or a piece of gear is sounding).

What, in your experience, are the pluses and minuses of altering your state of mind for listening? This can include anything you've used to affect your everyday state of mind, from coffee, beer, scotch, tobacco, to much stronger — and psychoactive, dissociative — additives.

What do you gain by altering your consciousness in terms of what you notice, attend to, linger on, etc?
What causes more details to emerge?
What allows you to stick with a thread or, alternately, make new connections?

Or perhaps you like to keep all those things *out* of your listening; if that's you, please say a bit about why.

128x128hilde45
"Drugs, gamblin’, sex, traveling, anything that is a problem in someone else’s life, is a problem in everyone’s life.. EXCEPT the person in denial.."

All that weed is clouding your sense of reality old boy.

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Thanks for confirming what I said. So with you it’s, gambling, traveling or drugs (god forbid a sex nut (one of the worst besides gamblers).

I was a shop steward for many years. The worst thing was telling a lady why her husband was being arrested at WORK for stealing thousands of gallons of fuel behind GAMBELING. One of several I knew. This guy even sold the tire chains off the rig in Reno and couldn't leave unless he was chained up.. THAT'S what started the whole 4 year sentence, in Quentin. He got violent with the cops.. I don't think he would have done time, if not for that stupid screw up.. 4 years...

The guy I was just working for squandered, millions from a company and lost a franchise behind TRAVELING, to nowhere just to travel. LOOK at a picture for god sakes..

Weed.. it is a gift from my forefather along with tobacco to the western world from the native folks that were here before. The other side of my lineage brought booze to the Americas.. oh yes.. I stay away from it all together.. No Beer, No Wine, no Strong drink.. My green eyed black Irish father taught me that. Quite the war hero, quite the drunk. I loved HIM not his drinkin’.. I’m surprised my sweet mother didn’t light the bed on fire..

Confused? NO!!

Informed, yes. AND when you find and OLD boy you know what to do with HIM don’t you..

I think I’ll get altered AGAIN and go feed the chickens.. Water melon eatin’ chickens..
I find my enjoyment of music, the emotional content of the music, the power, subtlety and beauty of the music, is considerably enhanced by the occasional application of a little grandpa weed (low TCH, high CBD).
Am I listening more critically or more accurately? Who cares? The point is to create a more emotional reaction to the music in that moment.
@mikelavigne 

I will buy the CD and rip it.  I had some friends with differing systems play the same track on Qobuz and Tidal. Same popping result.  The distortion shut down my amp! It was at moderate listening levels. When she reaches her strongest and highest notes the fluttering starts! 
Mike Lavigne, thanks for your thoughtful response. This is what makes audio so much fun.  Music lovers like us, and lucky enough to have a decent playback  system, seek out this knowledge from those who have been there, done that.  Great topic.  Personally, I don’t “enjoy “ critical listening. It’s just one of those things, skills,  we need for evaluation. Some folks have the golden ears and some don’t, it seems.  So all your suggestions are indeed, helpful!
 I love my system, room…and I really enjoy having my Audiofoo friends over for a long evening of good tunes, refreshments and whatever enhances the experience. FYI, last night I played The Pusher, by Steppenwolf, as a warning to all my crazy friends.