Does anyone listen backwards?

[PJL]

@Innocent_Bystander

writing in a supposed non-fiction journal

That’s largely why I gave up reading hi-fi mags - I don’t read fiction!

[jay]

@PJL

The concept of a sweet spot for listening, of having to sit rigidly in one place or it all falls apart is fundamentally unrealistic in my view. An excellent and lifelike set up should convince from wherever it’s listened to - as in real life. In my experience the best systems can still sound really good even if listened to from another room. Much like real musicians playing.

I get you, in that great “systems” seem to be able to create the illusion of instruments/players in the room. I am actually quite sensitive to speaker balance at times and a little correction can go a long way which I see as something fundamental to stereo listening. In that speakers are casting sound from 2 specific points in an enclosed space.

[Corry]

Whatever about listening backwards, I find there’s benefit in listening from the next room, if your arrangement allows that. Much of the audiophile stuff falls away, and you’re left with just the essence of the music.

Any time I make a change to my system, if the next door experience is less good than before, that’s a red flag, even if the in-room sound is (or seems) improved.