Learning to Listen: Neurological Evidence

**** The question becomes, how does an audiophile who is not a musician, or who has no musical training, study, learn and practice his/her listening skills other than the ideas offered in this thread? ****

We enter this world with a super refined gift of a mechanism that we learn to ascribe words, definitions and understandings of what it is we hear. By the time we're 5 yrs old, some of us are using adult grammar, fully understanding it, for crying out loud.

Having a hobby which involves hearing is simply a plus and how we refine it is innate (you know, born with it). The fact that there's a science to it only validates it. 

I've never played French Horn or slept at a Holiday Inn but I've refined my hearing more than the average bear and don't require a PA system to properly ascertain what I hear. Like I said, it's innate, as is the refining process. Some are better at it than others but it's safe to say, most here get it, and they're not musicians. 

All the best,
Nonoise

Holiday Inn...  Real audiophiles stay at the Ramada

**** You nailed it nonoise. Phew, finally… ****

First of all, let’s make it clear that no one is suggesting that one has to be a musician to “learn” how to listen, or what to listen to at a level that allows for reasonably astute discernment of differences in sound, or musical performance. However, the act of listening is, in most ways and innate ability aside, just like any other endeavor. In order to achieve a very high level of ability to discern, never mind the highest level, relying on innate ability, or casual exercise of the listening “muscle” is simply not enough. This applies to both the discernment of sonic issues as well as musical issues; two entirely different things.

There is no issue of claim to superiority or judgment of anyone’s level of ambition to excel at this endeavor. The enjoyment of music and the process by which it is done is a very personal matter; no point in judging. However, it is also true that some listeners feel the need to assume that they understand all there is to understand about music and its performance; or, sound and all of its nuances. While that attitude may stroke one’s ego, it is also very limiting. One of the things that all musicians striving for the very highest level of understanding of all that music is have one thing in common. That is, that there is always so much more to learn, understand and be able to hear.  It is literally endless.  

@tvad …could be that i got lucky…. A friend with a superb system circa 1983 or so…Infinity RS ( model down from IRS ), SOTA, Souther, Dynavector, CJ Premier… also a renowned music teacher in Mid Ohio..treated me to Mahler preconcert lecture / symphony in Cleveland …

Part of the lecture ( i may have inhaled ) focused on the selection of material for the death blows…. Leather over wood with a massive wood mallet ( think sledgehammer )….

Amazing, near religious event….

Now is the SOTA at that time Infinity servo woofer cabinet capable of slam and nuance ?….. Better listener for sure…

and fun.