Last night, after everyone had gone home, I sat in the Listening Lab, closed my eyes, and let the music wash over me. I wasn't analyzing the sound. I was just... listening.
It's easy to forget that skill. We sometimes spend so much time adjusting, tweaking, and evaluating that sometimes we forget to simply be present with the music.
When did you last just listen to enjoy what drew you to this hobby in the first place?
The paradox of high-end audio is that all our technical knowledge and equipment upgrades should serve one purpose: to get out of the way. To create a system so transparent that we forget it's there at all.
Next time you sit down for a listening session, try this: Put on a favorite album. Close your eyes. Let go of the analytical mind. Don't listen to the speakers—listen to the music.
You might rediscover what made you an audiophile in the first place.
