What do you do when you listen to music?

Just enjoy it.
Maybe a glass of wine or scoth.

If I am evaluating a peace of gear or music...I take notes and have my friend(s) over as a second pair of ears.

Listen to a "whole house music" while reading, chating, or just doing nothing.

very often i write. other times, i am reading posts on audiogon. i can appreciate the music without devoting 100 percent of my attention to it. it seems that i am not the only person doing this.

there are times that i am evaluating a component--lately cables. during this time, i listen analytically, as
i am trying to achieve a pleasing tonality, i.e., a balance of frequencies that suits my taste.

Well, right now I am wrapping presents and having wine while the football game is on TV (no sound).

Nora Jones is trying to seduce me while I wrap.....:-)

I will usually warm up by surfing the web for a bit on m laptop with the system playing. Then when I am relaxed and my system is warmed up I will turn down the lights and just listen with a warm cup of coffee or a nice merlot. I find that with the lights turned down, my mind can be free to imagine a 3d stage in front of me, instead of a stucco wall. Also, with the lights off I cannot see all my gear and be reminded of the ridiculous sums of money I have spent on this whacky hobby/disease. Often times, I fall asleep after an hour or so! LOL!!!

Am I the only one who falls asleep?

When I listen to my main system (living room), it has now gotten to the point where I will just put on any CD, usually one with vocals ... pass out for 40 minutes or so ... wake up ... put on the CD that I really want to listen to. I usually do some light magazine reading.

When I listen to the system in our TV & computer room, I am usually sitting at the computer and listen to satellite radio, or the other tube stereo system, or half watch TV.

Admittedly, I am more concerned with the quality and beauty of the sound and not too hung up on stereo imaging, unless the lack of it is positively distracting, like some opera recordings where it sounds like the singers are 30 rows back.

Regards, Rich