How Much Time/Percent Of The Time Do You ‘Listen Critically’?

[James Edward]

It’s occurred to me that I spend very little time lately listening to ‘the system’ in a manner looking to change something or find fault. My stereo is in my living room, pretty much open to the rest of my small house, and it’s on probably 3-5 hours a day. It goes on after work and through dinner prep.
As an audiophile, I’m wondering where I’m at; as a music lover, this is so much easier…
When I do ‘listen critically’, I like what I hear.
Should I see someone?
This is partly tongue-in-cheek- but, ‘it is what it is’ as ‘they’ say…
Where are you at?

[Nick B]

Don’t listen much critically. Am enjoying what I have. However….  I did order new speaker cables because I’m enjoying the Wywires presentation so much. They’ll be here in a week or two and after some burn in with the Hagerman, I’ll find out if they were worth it.

[P.I.]

I only "listen critically" when I am evaluating something I'm developing.

I listen primarily to enjoy the music, whether at home Orr in the car.

Take it, Tom 

[tmazz]

Ok, since Dave set me up.......

Jim for me it's all about the music.

I do virtually no critical listening anymore. When Meredith and I got married and moved into our new house I was face with a smaller listening room than I had before and was force to downsize my equipment because it physically would not fit in the new room, never mind how it would sound in a smaller space. I got equipment that was better suited for the space I had to work with and came to then conclusion that it would never sound as good as the system I had in the old house, but it was pretty damn good none the less. And most importantly, it was good enough to provide me with an enjoyable musical experience. No matter what kind of equipment you have there is always something that could make it a little bit better. When I moved into that new room I just decided that it was good enough. And it was actually quite liberating to stop obsessing over what the equipment sounded like and start focusing on the music itself. And I have to say I have gotten much more enjoyment out of the hobby since I started pay time listening to mys system and more time focused on what was being played through it.

Although now that I think about it I still do a lot of critical listening, except now my critical listening involves evaluating differences in musical styles and techniques and not sonic differences among gear.