[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

That's probably accurate, but before any new equipment, I have got to see what I'm up against.

Here's what happened. I was listening to "You and Your Friend" by Dire Straits, and it sounded terrific. But, Dire Straits has always been fussy about CD quality; that focus started with Brothers in Arms.

I put myself into my listening chair, started experimenting other reference material, and the songs that I know very well didn't sound as good - that includes a fairly recent remastering of DSOTM. I started moving my head into different positions, and was able to pick up new sounds, and that lead me to cupping my ears which was like an epiphany. I put Dire Straits back on and You and Your Friend through cupped ears sounded WAY GOOD; I was picking up fingernails on the string windings, light sweeps of cymbals and other various subtleties of the recording.

A check of google led me down the audiologist rabbit hole, and how cupping ears isn't a substitute for a good hearing aid for people with hearing loss. First, it looks silly, and second, hearing aids have come a long way

Listening with good headphones is great as far as picking up every little detail. I assume when you mean "cupping your ears" you are talking about using your hands to create outer ears (like a cat or mouse) to direct sound to your ears? Now we're all jealous of those folks that have huge ears that stick out!



But listening with headphones is not the same as listening to speakers so you can feel and be immersed in the music.

Maybe we need to hit up some military surplus places...