Cupping hands behind ears while listening - WOW!

[JSmith]

JSmith

 

[mhardy6647]

 

[mtbdudex]

My friend works ABC sports on the weekend college and pro games. He’s the guy holding the on field mic , like you see here (this not him), been doing it 15+ years now.
Focusing more ”sound” …

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

Back in the late 80's there was an audiophile thing that purported to the do the same thing as cupping your hands to your ears...
I believe it was even featured in TAS Magazine... it faded fast..

Peace.

 

[xanalog]

(and I am not being facetious)

Why stop now??????

 

[mhardy6647]

Why stop now??????

Dude, I have a serious side. Infinitesimal, yes... but it does exist!

 

[SoundsGood64]

I've been spending a lot of time recently trying to optimize my stereo setup. REW measurements, speaker placement and toe-in degrees, 1 or 2 subwoofers, room treatment products, equalization...

But, the most revealing change (and improvement) was when I cupped my hands behind my ears while listening. Suddenly, there was so much more clarity and detail across the spectrum! It was really a veil lifting experience!

Some of you will probably think that this is a joke post, but I am absolutely serious.

What is the physical explanation behind this? Is it a kind of "treble boost" or is it more about removing sound reflections and getting more of the direct sound of the speaker?

Glad you started a post on this. Definitely taking you seriously. I sometimes cup my hands around my ears at classical concerts to hear more detail and get more out of the experience. It's a pinna extension.

 

[G|force]

 

[unmutual]

Love all the vintage photos in this thread!

 

[xanalog]

Love all the vintage photos in this thread!

Those passive 'ear-amplifiers' in the vintage photos are the opposite of hearing protection (ear-plugs/headphone).
Photos kept making me sad, for the 'unknown' damage they were doing to their hearing.

 

[Curupira]

Those passive 'ear-amplifiers' in the vintage photos are the opposite of hearing protection (ear-plugs/headphone).
Photos kept making me sad, for the 'unknown' damage they were doing to their hearing.

They weren't using it for listening to music, they were hunting for distant planes coming from afar before the british implemented the Radar circa WWII. Aiming at the skies, the levels shouldn't be that high unless the objects were very close.

Acoustic location - Wikiwand

Acoustic location is a method of determining the position of an object or sound source by using sound waves. Location can take place in gases, liquids, and in s...

www.wikiwand.com

 

[xanalog]

They weren't using it for listening to music, they were hunting for distant planes coming from afar before the british implemented the Radar circa WWII. Aiming at the skies, the levels shouldn't be that high unless the objects were very close.

OIC, I thought they were being used to determine what exactly happens "when a tree falls in the forest, when no one is around."

 

[mhardy6647]

OIC, I thought they were being used to determine what exactly happens "when a tree falls in the forest, when no one is around."

Indeed.
Wouldn't it be great to have an evidence-based answer to that existential issue, rather than a whole bunch of subjectivist navel-gazing (or naval-gazing, as the case might be)?

 

[Romario]

The brain adapts to the ear shape one has.

 

[xanalog]

The brain adapts to the ear shape one has.

Which came first: chicken or the egg the ear or the brain?

UFC fighter Khabib's ear can only mean, his brain is on overtime pay!

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Which came first: chicken or the egg the ear or the brain?
View attachment 453540
UFC fighter Khabib's ear can only mean, his brain is on overtime pay!

Or he hasn't one.

 

[egellings]

They weren't using it for listening to music, they were hunting for distant planes coming from afar before the british implemented the Radar circa WWII. Aiming at the skies, the levels shouldn't be that high unless the objects were very close.

Acoustic location - Wikiwand

Acoustic location is a method of determining the position of an object or sound source by using sound waves. Location can take place in gases, liquids, and in s...

www.wikiwand.com

That's what I thought they were for-hearing distant aircraft in order to issue warnings of their arrival before they arrive, allowing time for defenses to prepare for their arrival.

 

[Andysu]

dr severin likes playing with ultra sonic frequencies

if you place hands around ears opposite way it improves the rear stereo back surrounds

 

[Ktacos]

I've noticed this too, the cupping around the ears sounding better. Things also sound better in a similar way when I have a pillow behind my head.

 

[JiiPee]

Cheap solution: Set of Hobbit ears

Overdoing it ?