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On hearing and listening.

They are very different things

Some people might have amazing hearing, but are not very good at listening, to either what they are listening to, or saying.

This is really important for audiophiles, and, for everyone in general in order to live a meaningful life.

Great hearing is of no value if one can’t listen...

hearing nounhear·​ing | ˈhir-iŋ
Definition of hearing

1a: the process, function, or power of perceiving soundspecifically : the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimulib: EARSHOT2a: opportunity to be heard, to present one’s side of a case, or to be generally known or appreciated
1: a listening to arguments
2: a preliminary examination in criminal procedurec: a session (as of a legislative committee) in which testimony is taken from witnesses
3: chiefly dialectal : a piece of news

Definition of listen

transitive verb


archaic : to give ear to : HEAR

intransitive verb

1: to pay attention to sound listen to music
2: to hear something with thoughtful attention : give consideration listen to a plea
3: to be alert to catch an expected sound listen for his step







perkri
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I believe listening and hearing are really the same thing for most people who use the words. It’s just a semantics game to try to separate them. The word Perception also is essentially the same thing as hearing and listening. Having said that, a lot is not (rpt not) known about how we perceive sound, how we hear sound. A lot of it has to do with memory - long-term memory and short-term memory. That’s how you know the words and music to songs and how you interpret new music you’re hearing for the first time. But I digress.

If only you could hear what I’ve heard with my ears.
tooblue
1,927 posts
 
Kind of reminds me of the old response, I believe a senator made in response to the question, what is porn? And he said I know it when I see it. Kind of the same thing about sound/music, why does it sound so good? Don't really need to dissect this at all, I just know it sounds good when I hear it and that's what I trust, my ears. Enjoy the music
perkri OP
907 posts
 
@geoffkait 
Agree. Try putting an omni directional, or even a directional microphone in a room where you hare having a conversation with someone, play it back later and it's really difficult to isolate the speech.

We tend to "ignore" static on a radio after awhile, or "snow" on a tv screen. 

The hearing in my left ear is very compromised, if I put a single IEM in that ear, its crazy muffled. As soon as the right one is put in, it magically equalized. Crazy.

My great grandfather had selective hearing, albeit for "maintaining sanity" reasons...

My comment also had to do with how some folks on the forum don't listen to themselves or others as they post. Effectively not hearing.

And thank you for channeling Roy Batty...
erik_squires
16,058 posts
 
I design my speakers and set up my room so I don’t have to hear.

I’m not trying to be obtuse, but relaxing my brain so I am no longer being analytical is my goal. I want to use the stereo to transport me, like being at the top of a mountain range, where you can see to the edges of the earth. That kind of relaxation and experience is what I want aurally.

One thing I've found, and has been written about by real scientists, is the amount of energy I spend filtering out room acoustics really gets to me, so for me at least, that's the first thing I need to enjoy myself.  Good room acoustics.

Best,
E
flatblackround's avatar
flatblackround
279 posts
 
Wow!  I can dig it.
Thats the kind of relaxation and experience I want orally.
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