CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Music and Recordings => Topic started by: mikoss on July 29, 2015, 03:43:02 PM
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Does anyone else feel like their music is playing as if it's a bit slowed down when it's presented through a really good amp? ("really good amp" I guess being something subjectively much better than what you're used to listening on...)
I don't know how else to describe this, but I've noticed it rolling in different tubes, and upgrading gear... particularly different headphone amps. It might be due to hearing "more" into the music... decay and lower level details, but I perceive the "slowing down" on vocals/guitar, things that seem quite easily audible. The song is obviously taking the same amount of time to play, so something else is going on...
I think it's some sort of brain thing, where more information is audible, or it's more easily processed (as opposed to being inaudible, or congested), so the experience seems more drawn out? I dunno... just guessing here and I'm sure this may sound odd. Just wondering if anyone else hears the same thing, and identifies with the perceived slower presentation.
I also don't think it's entirely just due to decay... it may just be a general resolution thing. This also ties into playing music for friends who aren't into gear who comment that it's a different song entirely. I don't know :)p8
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It sounds more like a mental thing to me. You're just really getting into the music.
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This is a topic that actually really, really interests me.
Like maverickronin said, when you REALLY get into the music, it can have this kind of effect where moments can feel like they last longer. You can hear much more of each sound because it feels like it lasts longer. This happens when you can really clear your mind and focus solely on the music. The better you are at listening actively, the better you'll be at doing this.
I've mentioned this in another thread before, but try experimenting a little bit. Do some meditation and see how it influences your ability to listen to music. Consume some caffeine and then try it. Ingest some marijuana and try it. Ingest some other psychedelics and then try it, too :)p8
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more information is audible, or it's more easily processed (as opposed to being inaudible, or congested), so the experience seems more drawn out
This is what I have experienced. I have tried to describe it as "fuller," which is a bad word choice, but I understand what you are talking about. I can only guess it is a function of a) less ringing (a function of the driver used) and b) more dynamics being fed (a function of source and amp). It is especially present on tracks I am already familiar with. As I climbed the upgrade ladder, the scarier part has been when my mind stops focusing on the "more", and you are just listening to "everything". It is enough to make a self-respecting headphone enthusiast consider switching to speakers...
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Interesting thoughts guys. I started the google machine and found some very interesting research on this topic...
This link mentions how the more information you're processing can lead to your brain perceiving the time slowing down phenomenon...
https://blog.bufferapp.com/the-science-of-time-perception-how-to-make-your-days-longer
Quote...
When we receive lots of new information, it takes our brains a while to process it all. The longer this processing takes, the longer that period of time feels:
When we’re in life-threatening situations, for instance, “we remember the time as longer because we record more of the experience. Life-threatening experiences make us really pay attention, but we don’t gain superhuman powers of perception.”
The same thing happens when we hear enjoyable music, because “greater attention leads to perception of a longer period of time.”
Conversely, if your brain doesn’t have to process lots of new information, time seems to move faster, so the same amount of time will actually feel shorter than it would otherwise. This happens when you take in lots of information that’s familiar, because you’ve processed it before. Your brain doesn’t have to work very hard, so it processes time faster.
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Always thought it was a mental state thing. Being completely relaxed so you can focus on just the music. For me, taking a shower helps a lot.
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This link mentions how the more information you're processing can lead to your brain perceiving the time slowing down phenomenon...
Yup, when I played Quake 8 hours a day. It's like the Matrix.
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The imbibement of certain recreational sustances can also alter your time perception. Supposedly this is of benefit to many musicians for their performances as well.
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I've mentioned this in another thread before, but try experimenting a little bit. Do some meditation and see how it influences your ability to listen to music. Consume some caffeine and then try it. Ingest some marijuana and try it. Ingest some other psychedelics and then try it, too :)p8
Listening to music is a hedonistic activity to begin with, so... you know.... all of that you mentioned applies. Time is totally perception based to begin with anyways, that's how you think you feel like you can experience a lifetime in an instant on psychedelics.
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It's a mood thing for me.
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Really, the only time music ever slowed down for me was using a turntable that wasn't quartz locked or the pitch/tempo was altered. For how I listen and experience audio, the music always pretty much keeps its recorded tempo IME.
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Really, the only time music ever slowed down for me was using a turntable that wasn't quartz locked or the pitch/tempo was altered. For how I listen and experience audio, the music always pretty much keeps its recorded tempo IME.
Actually this is a funny point, but true for me too. I have had a lot of experiences where time feels like it speeds up or slows down, but I never get that with music.
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I've had times I thought my (digital) music sounded like it was a slower tempo (like the turntable comparison), but I figured it was some minor delusion. I assume it's technically impossible.
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My experiences are the same as Anax's .. unless I play with the pitch control of course.
Never had that with music, I do get other effects when coming 'in the zone' but can get in 'the zone' with a Sansa Fuze + KSC75 equeally well.
The time slowing down thing I only experienced once.
Riding a moped I crashed into a dog at full speed (jumped out of a shrubbery, did not see it)
Before one asks... the dog was quite big and was O.K. (surprisingly)
Falling to the ground went very fast acc to the dogs owner but seemed to take ages and strangely enough heard my Jiu Jitsu teacher 'coach' me how to break my fall.
You know... one arm in, make an arch... roll ... slam your arm on the mat (was the road here) and roll through and stand up.
This all passed very slowly as if I had lots of time.
The dogs owner was surprised as he saw me smacking to the ground, roll and stand on my feet.
No damage... except the moped.
The dog ran away but later came back to the owner.
After a chat to see if all were allright we went our own way again.
Never experienced time slowing down after that (fortunately)
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I have experienced a living-in-slow-motion effect that I guess is similar to what Solderdude described on a bicycle several times, but not while listening to music.
"Music slowing down" reminds me of a different thing I have noticed when moving between rigs that are far apart in sound quality. Particularly with bass, the better rigs seem to have more separation between notes, that is, the attacks of the sequence of notes match up between the two systems, but the notes decay faster on the good one so that there seems to be a longer time between the notes, giving the impression of the music slowing down. Well, slowing down after a fashion, something completely different to playing a 45 at 33rpm...
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Music is slower when I'm wide awake and faster when I'm getting tired. Perceptively, of course. You might have just been super hyped for getting to listen to whatever it was you listened to.
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Maybe it is related to the system/dac's ability to render the decay/sustain/release portion of the sound envelope which gives the brain more time/information to process. I find that Sigma Delta dacs & Class D amps usually omits(portions of it) away the decay/sustain/release portion of the music thus sounding "faster" but at the expense of natural timbre.
sound envelope:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ot9AaJx-Y
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Personally, I only ever get the "time slowing down" sensation under extreme stress.
Probably the most vivid experience was once when I was too distracted while I was driving, almost ran a red light, and narrowly avoided an accident after slamming on the brakes. I actually have this odd memory of time running backwards for some reason.
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My most vivid recollection of time dilation didn't involve a car crash, but a girl and a slow song...
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My most vivid recollection of time dilation didn't involve a car crash, but a girl and a slow song...
...and an Adam's apple. ;D
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Toscanini's steady fast tempi sound faster than others' unsteady even faster tempi. (My, that's a tongue twister.)
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Headphones and speakers with an excellent midrange and excellent instrument separation without unpleasant peaks in the low and high end can make certain music sound slow by sheer detail retrieval.
The K240DF and CD900ST were impressive. The K500 and CD1700 were even better. Thing is usually it is a matter of moods and physical states. I prefer listening to albums with a fresh coffee. The caffeine rush and the state of relaxed alertness can lead to a unique bliss.
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I'm referring to you people PRaTsters from now on.
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Pace, Rhythm and Timing?
Do you like Buddy Rich? He was quite the drummer :)p8
P.S. You do have a point, slowing down the playing speed of the recording is more objective and you can hear it clearly.
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Yup, when I played Quake 8 hours a day. It's like the Matrix.
Felt the same way. I loved that game.
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...and an Adam's apple. ;D
Nah, that was an entirely different encounter... :)p8
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I'm referring to you people PRaTsters from now on.
Well spotted Anax... didn't make the link myself.
Excellent explanation for the PRaT phenomenon which I never 'got' because for me the Pace, Rhythm and Timing are always the same and simply cannot alter by any amplifier electrically !
The perception of it, now it seems, may for some people.
So PRaT awareness seems to change for some, not all people and may be affected by other factors as well.
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I'm referring to you people PRaTsters from now on.
I have read more than once that PRaT was a term a sales person at Linn came up with to sell turntables. Could be urban legend of course.
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PRaT is very applicable to turntables whether you sell them or not. They weren't all keeping proper time for sure.
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Do you like Buddy Rich? He was quite the drummer :)p8
I was listening to an older Wait Wait Don't Tell Me with Max Weinberg the other day and he said he got his gig with the E Street Band when he answered an add for "Drummer Wanted. NO JUNIOR GINGER BAKERS".
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PRaT is very applicable to turntables whether you sell them or not. They weren't all keeping proper time for sure.
True. I think that was the selling point, that Linn turntables made the music sound better. Which was especially true back in the day. My first turntable was so off, that when I finally got a Technics with speed calibration, I realized all my records had been playing too fast. Took me a while to adjust to the new PRaT. :)
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I was listening to an older Wait Wait Don't Tell Me with Max Weinberg the other day and he said he got his gig with the E Street Band when he answered an add for "Drummer Wanted. NO JUNIOR GINGER BAKERS".
I have just read the Wiki about Max Weinberg. He was the man behind the beat of "Born In The USA."
Now I understand his importance. That beat, that sound still echoes in my musical memory. I like how he like Ringo Starr was not about the solos but keeping the music going. Many great drummers have that under-appreciated quality.