Critical listening and altered states

@bolong - that's interesting about those Lion's Mane mushrooms; wasn't familiar with those. There's a 'mushroom church' a few blocks from where I live where you can go and buy 'shrooms as 'sacrament'. That's the only kinda church you'll get ME in! 

As I recall, smoking pot always aided in my concentration and enjoyment of music. I haven't done it in many years though because there were too many other undesirable side effects.

Imaging and sound staging have always been critical for me in inducing ASC, the illusion of having real live flesh and blood performers in my room with present setup brings about this state without the need for any ingested substances. Not to say I don't like a bit of bourbon with my listening sessions these days, the Lions Mane sound intriguing.

Beers,Pot,thc,Mushrooms, will modify your interpretation of music perception , not the objective quality of sound perception.

only acoustics can do this.

I used acoustics parameters controls by my ears  as a tuning instrument to reach ectasy...It is not perfect... It is optimal for me....It cost me nothing...

Acoustics is not just mere  panels on walls.There is concepts to put at play and devices we can control.

Drugs of any kind are fun but , acoustics is the best drugs with no negative effects...

Understanding what we hears is like a blind person  using echo-localization, it is freedom from the jail of marketing and a way to become creative...

Acoustics? That absolutely makes no sense in the context of this conversation, although being chained to a chair in anechoic  chamber while being forced to listen to the entire Ring cycle would likely lead to either a transcendent experience or a sore butt. "Ludes and Jack Daniels" is hilarious, and injects a needed dose (!) of gonzo into this conversation. As a professional musician for many decades I can attest to the sort of trance-like state you can get into especially during soloing, but I can also attest to playing a well known piece of music live and thinking about laundry or my cousin Shirley even though I don't have a cousin Shirley.  I smoke pot while listening just to change up my biological input, but I've certainly had countless wonderful music moments without it. An attentive crowd can really get your blood pumping...highly recommended.