Do you listen alone or with guest s

Interesting responses so far, I must say.

I tend to listen alone, but to be honest, that is not really by choice. (My wife loves music too, which means I get to listen with her sometimes, although she does prefer the volume to be a bit lower than I like, but she does compromise on that, as it is a bit higher than she likes.) I mostly prefer to listen with friends actually. I love it when friends bring over they favorite music, (or when I go to a fellow audiophile's house and bring my favorite music).

I have a couple of music loving audiophile friends, (both of whom still go to concerts too), who enjoy both coming over to my house to listen to music, and hosting me, when I go to their houses to listen as well. (And yeah, there is a certain amount of critical listening going on, as well as bits of advice being given, and taken.) But for me, the experience is not really about critical listening, but socializing in an environment that I enjoy. Sharing and learning about new music is extremely enjoyable in these situations. Sometimes we talk, (in which case we will lower the volume a bit), but mostly we just listen quietly. We tend to share the sweet spot on the couch, (I get it when he plays his music, and he gets it when I play my music).

My two cents worth anyway.

Alone. My wife gets restless. I wish that weren't the case, because it would be rewarding to share the experiences with her. She is aware of this, so sometimes she sits with me to make me happy.

I do have a close friend who is also an audiophile, so we sometimes listen together when changes have been made to his system or mine. But we don't like the same kind of music, so we tend not to listen together in a more regular way.

The only regular music listening companion is the dog. But she falls asleep, so once again, it's just me.

Bryon

The Dogs seem to like to be where ever I am, so if I am listening they are around. Other then that, I am alone which allows me to disappear into the music. My sessions tend to be late at night.

Well, at least I know I am neither loosing my hearing, nor anti-social based on the great response to my thread.... On the issue of playing music loud, I had some people question me about it. However, you are not playing it loud if you are properly "pressurizinng" the room, and finding the right volume level of the recording....that is not headbanger behavior.... As many commmented, "focus" is the key, to enjoying music, and as noted lets the "magic happen".... It can be a lonely experience, but I prefer to think of it as meditative. A retreat from the meaningless trivia of life. Those members who have wives who listen and enjoy with them are very fortunate.... One final antedote: A few weeks ago, I played the CD: "Hundred Year Hall" a live recording from the Grateful Dead's European tour in 1972. I usually listen up to track 8, and skip the next: "Turn on your Lovelight" and finish out Disc 1. I decided this time to let the disc play through completely. "Lovelight" is nearly 20 minutues long. About half way through, the band hooked out. The next ten minutes of music was pure esctasy, and musical genius. They explored several avenues of musical style, stepping on the gas, then slowing the music down in remarkable increments, seeming always to be closing toward a finale, then almost jumping to another plane of speed and harmonic variations. I was left stunned as the track ended, marveling at the virtuosity of this great band. For me, these "moments" are what high end can capture about music. Regards to all Jim

Alone.
Music appreciation is so subjective that similar tastes is a non starter. Appreciation requires concentration and having others around is a distraction, in so many ways. It is so deeply personal that it becomes a selfish act allowing one to fully mesh with the experience. It's like meditation and that requires singularity.
I think I need a therapist.