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Changing the listener's ear position

I was thinking about posts that have addressed "cupping the ears,"
putting your hands around your ears to increase the volume,
especially in conversation, when it is hard to hear or understand the speaker.

I wanted to make a simple change to my ears that would improve
the music experience, both live and recorded. Most of us have paid more
attention to changing the outside world rather than changing the tools with which we listen... our two ears! My best move so far
has been to place nickel size felt pads (used to protect floors from damage
by moving furniture across them) behind my ears. This slightly moves
my ears away from my head.

The "scientific" explanation for improved sound,
gathered from different sources:

Tilting the ear away from your head makes the ear lobes bigger, extending their ability to gather sound waves. More sound is reflected into the ear.
This makes the sound louder, and also changes the quality of what you
will hear. It also does a good job at blocking sound coming from other directions. And probably reduces interaction with sound waves coming from the room... behind the listener, for example?

The felt pads I am using have an adhesive backing on one side,
and are only about a quarter inch thick. They are reasonably comfortable,
and have become part of any serious listening session, for me. Check out the Dollar Store and Home Depot.

I like the difference that these small pads are making, much better than the
modeling clay and rope caulk that I tried previously. It is easy to A/ B
the pads, and play with the different positions they may be placed,
along the back of the head. I apply the sticky side to the skin on my head,
behind my ears, and the dry side touches the back of my ear.

Happy listening!
sgordon
ecruz
402 posts
 
Although I do not dispute your claim, I draw the line at wearing one of those dog cones you get from the vet.

Maybe I'm just immature(ok, I am). But this made me laugh out loud.
chazro's avatar
chazro
635 posts
 
I seem to remember back in the day someone actually sold some type of ear attachment thingamajig to facilitate this effect!
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
As the inventor of Ortho Ears a long time ago, I think I can say without fear of contradiction that cupping your hands behind your ears does increase the gain, but all is not well in Big Ears country. The better the system becomes, I.e., the better the signal to noise ratio and dynamic range the less effective cupping hands behind the ears becomes. Increasing the volume of the system also diminishes the effect and there is also something a little unnatural to the sound that occurs when cupping hands. Ortho Ears were essentially rubber prosthetic ears molded in the shape of Spock's ears.
sgordon OP
9 posts
 
I have talked to Mike Riley, at www.earglasses.com
Next month, he is introducing a new product, a plastic shell
that fits over each ear and has an adhesive on the part that goes behind the ear. This is from a recent e-mail...

"The product itself emits a dull "click" when struck with a fingernail,
but is very, very unlikely to "ring" when serving to deflect sound waves
into the ear canal. Given most audiophiles' preference for pure
stereo setups, you might be interested in the fact that the lenses,
when worn, will reduce the amount of Haas-effect room reflections
from bouncing off of the walls and into your ears. This can enhance stereo
imaging, but won't help matters if you wish to listen to a 5.1 or 7.1
home theater setup."

Mike also says, "the shape is semi-spherical... designed to reflect
sound waves coherently into the opening of the ear canal of the
typical wearer."

I simply tried a different approach, with the furniture dots, using the "natural" characteristics of the human ear. (Maybe it is respect for
evolution?) And, for me, increasing the angle of the surface of the ear (pointing forward) has led to very satisfying results, and with very little cost and effort.

I will be giving the earglasses a try, too, next month.
(Their main market is the mass millions whose hearing is declining.)
Mike maintains that the earglasses are "audiophile ready," and that
no further tweaks will improve their performance.

So, a holiday gift for the audiophile who "has everything?"
A nicely wrapped package of furniture dots! Anyone tried them, yet?
csontos
1,311 posts
 
The only one on to something here is Geoff. Do you guys think the millions spent on research and development by the people designing your gear were wearing goofy apparatus on their ears to achieve the specs and performance of their product? Especially speakers. Good luck doing the "Red Green" duct tape upgrade shuffle. No need for room EQ, right? I know where this is going. The next thing Sgordon comes up with will be mini room halve replicas with little bass traps in the corners, little couches, little coffee and end tables, a mini big screen TV and, oh, carpet for sure. All strapped to his head. What a hoot!
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