Pitchblack Playback: The success of listening in the dark and how it's changing the music experience

[Winemaker]

I’m sharing the link below to an article published on AFDigitale, as I found it really interesting and wanted to share it with all of you—fellow lovers of Hi-Fi, but above all, of MUSIC.

https://www.afdigitale.it/pitchblac...he-sta-cambiando-il-modo-di-vivere-la-musica/ - Select English (or other options) in the top right corner.

Let me know if you’ve ever experienced something like this, and whether you think listening in the dark is a valid way to enjoy music in a truly immersive way.

 

[JanRSmit]

Well yes, it changes the perception in a good way, getting more engaged with the music. In the morning when darkness slowly goes away and birds start to sing, is another special moment of the day. Provided the choice of music of course.

 

[Karmacoma]

Well... or close your eyes?

 

[DavidMcRoy]

Yes, it's a transformational experience.

 

[Redacted]

I recommend putting a black bin bag over the head and securing it on with duct tape.
It works well when collecting payments from associates, but not so much for the actual music.
I do like to minimize distractions though - no FP displays on (esp. not having the VU idiot-meters on), no TV displays, flashing lights etc.....

 

[Keith_W]

Try saying it 10 times, quickly. "Plitchback ... payback..." I can't.

 

[Redacted]

Try saying it 10 times, quickly. "Plitchback ... payback..." I can't.

I can easily. Try dropping your pitch a 5th between words.
Or not trying at all after 5 pints.

 

[Rickysa]

toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, toy boat

 

[JanRSmit]

Well... or close your eyes?

What i normally do when listening to music, even at concerts.

 

[sergeauckland]

I used to many years ago, especially when using valve amps. Now, if I turn out the lights or close my eyes, I fall asleep which rather reduces the musical pleasure.

S

 

[Redacted]

One extra thing I do is to pump out all the air in my listening room to avoid the problems of noise caused by Brownian motion. It does appear to cause several snags though....

 

[Cote Dazur]

Let me know if you’ve ever experienced something like this, and whether you think listening in the dark is a valid way to enjoy music in a truly immersive way

I am a big fan of dedicate an hour of your day exclusively to listening to an album. Or more than one album. It is part of my daily music diet.
I often close my eyes and also sometime I pull the blind down to be in quasi obscurity.
But I never attended an event like described in the article and probably never will.
Listening in the dark or with eyes close is ok but I prefer listening in a room being still able to see the boundaries, it gives me a better illusion of a space define area of where the music appear to be coming from. For me low light is better than dark for a better immersion.

 

[Winemaker]

I think it’s a completely different experience compared to listening at home. It’s similar to watching a movie in a cinema—there’s that shared sense of catharsis. That cathartic effect pushes you to engage much deeper than you would at home. On top of that, in a setup like this, the equipment, speakers, room acoustics, and the almost pitch-black environment naturally pull you into full concentration.

At home, just by virtue of being there, you have a thousand distractions (unless you happen to live in a secluded villa)—the intercom, the phone ringing, the neighbors, the outside world... all of that gets completely tuned out in a setting like the one described in the article.

If they did something like this near me, I’d definitely go. Sure, the ticket prices mentioned seem a bit steep, but people spend money on far more useless things anyway...

 

[solderdude]

Same here ... completely dark room helps.
Later evening listening helps too.
The difference between a quick listen during the day and lights off in the late evening are substantial.
There is even a difference between listening under fluorescent light and low light level 'warm' lighting.

Then there is another 'effect' which is watching a performance on a screen (music video where one sees the actual instruments being played).
Even when the sound quality would be insufficient for 'normal' listening it becomes 'good' when seeing instruments being played.

The brain is a funny thing.

 

[JanRSmit]

Is what i was lectured that our sensory systems work together. For me damping the visual sensory gives me a better immersion into the music and a more clear view or peak into the artist emotions why he/she/they play or sing the way it is done.

 

[DavidEdwinAston]

Same here ... completely dark room helps.
Later evening listening helps too.
The difference between a quick listen during the day and lights off in the late evening are substantial.
There is even a difference between listening under fluorescent light and low light level 'warm' lighting.

Then there is another 'effect' which is watching a performance on a screen (music video where one sees the actual instruments being played).
Even when the sound quality would be insufficient for 'normal' listening it becomes 'good' when seeing instruments being played.

The brain is a funny thing.

Watching the performance whilst listening, is the reason why I would like to own, the best sounding TV that is available!

 

[Winemaker]

Guardare l'esibizione mentre si ascolta è il motivo per cui vorrei possedere il televisore con il miglior audio disponibile!

TV OLED 4K ULTRA HD TV-55Z95BEG

I'm starting this thread to see if anyone here owns the Panasonic TV-55Z95BEG 4K Ultra HD OLED TV, as I'm looking for some real-world owner feedback. I've also noticed it's nowhere to be found—it’s practically non-existent online. Is Panasonic still distributing in Italy? I’m posting this here...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[DavidEdwinAston]

TV OLED 4K ULTRA HD TV-55Z95BEG

I'm starting this thread to see if anyone here owns the Panasonic TV-55Z95BEG 4K Ultra HD OLED TV, as I'm looking for some real-world owner feedback. I've also noticed it's nowhere to be found—it’s practically non-existent online. Is Panasonic still distributing in Italy? I’m posting this here...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Love my Italian?

 

[Winemaker]

Love my Italian?

Which?

 

[FrantzM]

Same here ... completely dark room helps.
Later evening listening helps too.
The difference between a quick listen during the day and lights off in the late evening are substantial.
There is even a difference between listening under fluorescent light and low light level 'warm' lighting.

Then there is another 'effect' which is watching a performance on a screen (music video where one sees the actual instruments being played).
Even when the sound quality would be insufficient for 'normal' listening it becomes 'good' when seeing instruments being played.

The brain is a funny thing.

+1

I have a "dedicated" HT/Listening room and it is painted grayish black and is dark .. Not "pitch" black/dark. but can be close though .. That is where I conduct my daily music sessions..

Well I must say "conducted" , until my wife decided that this was the most peaceful space in our house .. Man Cave became .. Family cave.. I have to "lend" it to her from time to time.. no.. very often
May be time for a new Man Cave .. Now I can justify another system