Hi Fi in lockdown

[bumpy]

I am interested to hear other peoples opinions of listening to their Hi Fi systems in lock down. Has it given you a retreat to restore the mind, or like me are you at a low ebb with the emotional involvement.

[Firebottle]

Hi Chris, sorry to hear you are at a low ebb.
I have been improving the system somewhat during lockdown and really enjoying the better sound. The bank balance has taken quite a hit but no regrets.

I shall be posting in the gallery section very soon.

[Lawrence001]

Hi Chris
Do you just mean low ebb in terms of musical involvement? I hope it's not more general.
I'ts certainly been challenging for me with the kids at home all day, I don't get to listen until 10.30pm when I'm nackered and I then feel more like putting my headphones system on in bed.

[VanDerGraaf]

I feel much the same as Lawrence. Having a baby who's just turned one and being in lockdown means that I often just don't have the energy to even listen by the end of the day.

Emotional involvement in the music? I think it is as great as ever, but the doses are far, far smaller.

On the other hand, I have been enjoying buying some cheapish old amps and messing around with those. I've actually been (positively) surprised at the results. Doing things for the first time like setting idle current.

So it's been a mixed experience.

One lasting effect is that I don't think my vintage amp fetish is going to go away any time soon... :)

[struth]

Think ive found myself living more for the moment.. less audio, more film... better food and drink. cherish any sights of nice days, family messages etc..
Still enjoy thoroughly my tunes, but there are less of them these days..

[bumpy]

Thanks for your concerns good people. I am in general good spirits, but find I cant connect emotionally with my music like I used to. In a similar vein, I also used to paint watercolours regularly, but cant be arsed to pick up a brush at present.

[struth]

think this lockdown with kids may show dads how tough being a mum can be, and why she has a headache :eyebrows:

[hifinutt]

chris , i think many folks are at a low ebb , i have relatives who have not seen their husband for months , others shut in due to shielding , we have in our small circle knowledge of about 20 deaths from covid . listening to music certainly helps and especially uplifting stuff . and these forums are great so we can talk , saves me going bonkers sometimes

[Pharos]

I'm sure that many things affect our receptivity, including our point in our lives and our preoccupations and responsibilities.

For me those great moments, mainly form my early twenties, have gradually become more infrequent, but this has to an extent been offset by improving the Hi-Fi over the years, I suppose, trying to get more of that intensity.

I listen to a lot of FM, this mainly because I can get on with other things, and because it has the advantage that what is going to be played is not known, and so the surprise allows a 'virginal' impact on the brain; that is, the mindset is not pre-setup as it is when we decide to play something.

Yesterday, as always if possible, I listened to Sounds of the 70s, and it was very good in quality, channels balanced, and care taken with mic technique and generally good sound. The same was true of a listen on Saturday to Rylan, this after a 9 mile walk over the cliffs and back as fast as I could, and I wonder to what extent aerobic condition helps sound perception.

It is also possible to hear after a programme an immediate decline in sound quality on occasions.

But it remains for me, that many other things in our daily lives which affect our psychology, have an effect on how we perceive the sound.

[User211]

I am not sure I have made any distinction between hi-fi in or out of lockdown.

Got a big new room due to a recent house move. Have almost set up my TT after 5 years or maybe more of non-use.

Got a 100 inch ultra short throw 4K projector in there with an ambient light rejecting screen, which is fun. Nothing makes you more aware of video source quality than a 100 inch screen. It's a bit like owning a pair of Apogees but for video.

Been enjoying Alan FearBottle's mods to my Lampizator a very great deal. He's done a great job on it - much better than Lampizator themselves ever achieved. It's just an awesome piece of hi-fi esoterica now. Crazy but excellent fun. Which is the way it should be.

Now I just need a job again but TBH I am in no rush. Lockdown weather has been excellent. We should lockdown more!

That said I am finding the general public's attitude almost crazy at the moment. They seem to have forgotten what's happened and the whole social distancing thing appears to be being largely ignored.

[paulf-2007]

Been listening more than ever. Shielding for 12 weeks and recently a letter to say another month. But I'm cool with it. I have to shop so being very cautious. Tbh 'er indoors and myself will be shielding much longer than this and I'm ready for it. Usually I would be out working on my car and hifi takes a back seat so enjoying being in the listening room. Also saving money just by not buying petrol so bought another amp just for fun. As for those stressing, don't let it get you down, if you paid a visit to a cancer unit like we were doing before this situation you realise how good we've got it. When you see young people suffering before they've had a life I question what it's all about.

[Audio Al]

Thanks for your concerns good people. I am in general good spirits, but find I cant connect emotionally with my music like I used to. In a similar vein, I also used to paint watercolours regularly, but cant be arsed to pick up a brush at present.

:worthless:

Now that is a talent , Come on show us some of your work :)

[Audio Al]

Also for me , Lockdown ? :scratch: What lockdown :scratch: , I have been working full time as normal throughout

Coz i'm good like that , so value my time alone with my music and crapfi / midfi / hifi :D

[Frazeur1]

I feel similar to Al, lockdown? My work requires me to be there, which I am hugely thankful to even have a job and means to go. Yet it also means working with basically a skeleton crew, so more demands on everyone, more responsibility, and try to not make mistakes, get hurt, or just go somewhat mental.

Plus throw the complete lunacy that is going on-and has been over here in the US, makes me sick. I really wonder where true human kindness, compassion has gone. A country/world gone bonkers at a time(really always) we should be pulling together instead of feeding all the unrest, racial issues, and everything else.

My mom has had two strokes over the last couple weeks, and I cannot even see her. My step daughter is about to give birth to her first child, and her husband has just found out he has a rare cancer, which obviously isn’t good, especially now looking to be a father.

My wife is in the midst of losing her job, one that she loves dearly, and the thought of even attempting to get out and look, and go through the hell hole that can be, especially now, well, it can all be a bit over whelming. I thought mentally that some of this wouldn’t get to me-or that I would not allow it to, but have found it easier said than done!

But in it all, I feel my wife and I are very fortunate in so many ways, especially when I do see so many that have little to nothing, with very little help or hope. It takes one look around to realize I have no reason to complain one bit, and try to help those less fortunate if possible. That helps bring grounding, and focus too.

When I do take time to sit and listen though, music almost always brings me so much joy, and settles my heart and soul, much like the sea does(even though I am far from it). So all is not lost, perspective from a good place does help! Keep the chins up folks, better days ahead hopefully, it may be awhile, but we need to keep on, keeping on!

[Audio Al]

I feel similar to Al, lockdown? My work requires me to be there, which I am hugely thankful to even have a job and means to go. Yet it also means working with basically a skeleton crew, so more demands on everyone, more responsibility, and try to not make mistakes, get hurt, or just go somewhat mental.

Plus throw the complete lunacy that is going on-and has been over here in the US, makes me sick. I really wonder where true human kindness, compassion has gone. A country/world gone bonkers at a time(really always) we should be pulling together instead of feeding all the unrest, racial issues, and everything else.

My mom has had two strokes over the last couple weeks, and I cannot even see her. My step daughter is about to give birth to her first child, and her husband has just found out he has a rare cancer, which obviously isn’t good, especially now looking to be a father.

My wife is in the midst of losing her job, one that she loves dearly, and the thought of even attempting to get out and look, and go through the hell hole that can be, especially now, well, it can all be a bit over whelming. I thought mentally that some of this wouldn’t get to me-or that I would not allow it to, but have found it easier said than done!

But in it all, I feel my wife and I are very fortunate in so many ways, especially when I do see so many that have little to nothing, with very little help or hope. It takes one look around to realize I have no reason to complain one bit, and try to help those less fortunate if possible. That helps bring grounding, and focus too.

When I do take time to sit and listen though, music almost always brings me so much joy, and settles my heart and soul, much like the sea does(even though I am far from it). So all is not lost, perspective from a good place does help! Keep the chins up folks, better days ahead hopefully, it may be awhile, but we need to keep on, keeping on!


I'm with you on this one :)

[Jac Hawk]

Up until now i've been in the same camp as Al, i do a lot of work with the NHS so it's been busy to say the least, however as of Wednesday i'm on furlough, not because work has slowed or anything like that, but i'm type 1 diabetic and our HR team have just realised that i really shouldn't be traveling the country in and out of hospitals so i'm actually looking forward to a little down time.

When not on the road i'm working from home so i am getting the chance to do more listening than i normally would, i've bought some new speakers a couple of new amps, 1 which is in Scotland which i'll collect when we are allowed to travel there and the other is winging its way to me via the post, so i can't wait for that, i also seem to be buying vinyl like nobodies business i must be buying 4 or 5 new LP's every week since lockdown so i'm getting to listen to a lot of new stuff which i'm quite enjoying. i can't say i'm not getting as much enjoyment out of the music as i was pre lockdown but then like i said i've not been locked up for 2+ months.

[Lurch]

Whilst I'm listening to my system for around 12hrs a day (work part-time, early mornings in a newsagents) I'm finding I'm suffering from over exposure to music for about 60% of the time. Some days I just stick the system on and have RP playing as I don't need to interact with the rig so can, do other stuff like reading or housework. Though the last 2 weeks have been good as have put my wallet into ICU 😬 having bought an OL Conqueror 3C and a Tron Seven Ultimate Phono (due at Lurch towers end of the week). So rediscovering my records with the new arm, and looking forward to doing it with the PS when it arrives.
Crazy thing is before lockdown I was never bothered about going anywhere and quite happily stayed in listening and reading. However now there's nowhere to go I'm frustrated at the limited options available.

[Pigmy Pony]

I feel similar to Al, lockdown? My work requires me to be there, which I am hugely thankful to even have a job and means to go. Yet it also means working with basically a skeleton crew, so more demands on everyone, more responsibility, and try to not make mistakes, get hurt, or just go somewhat mental.

Plus throw the complete lunacy that is going on-and has been over here in the US, makes me sick. I really wonder where true human kindness, compassion has gone. A country/world gone bonkers at a time(really always) we should be pulling together instead of feeding all the unrest, racial issues, and everything else.

My mom has had two strokes over the last couple weeks, and I cannot even see her. My step daughter is about to give birth to her first child, and her husband has just found out he has a rare cancer, which obviously isn’t good, especially now looking to be a father.

My wife is in the midst of losing her job, one that she loves dearly, and the thought of even attempting to get out and look, and go through the hell hole that can be, especially now, well, it can all be a bit over whelming. I thought mentally that some of this wouldn’t get to me-or that I would not allow it to, but have found it easier said than done!

But in it all, I feel my wife and I are very fortunate in so many ways, especially when I do see so many that have little to nothing, with very little help or hope. It takes one look around to realize I have no reason to complain one bit, and try to help those less fortunate if possible. That helps bring grounding, and focus too.

When I do take time to sit and listen though, music almost always brings me so much joy, and settles my heart and soul, much like the sea does(even though I am far from it). So all is not lost, perspective from a good place does help! Keep the chins up folks, better days ahead hopefully, it may be awhile, but we need to keep on, keeping on!

You actually have every reason to complain a bit, and the fact that you're not doing is a credit to you! Keep smiling Timothy, and if there's such a thing as karma things will get better for you :) I wish you well

[Frazeur1]

Thanks, really all is good indeed! One day at a time! Be well all!:)

[chrisph]

It is a strange time for us all and no doubt it must be affecting folks in different ways. I feel for all those who are worried about their job security and the consequences that may arise or already impacted on their lives. Personal circumstances will be feeding into peoples mood throughout the day, during all activities, including listening to music. Hopefully the latter helps to lift their spirits in difficult times.

As for me I have found myself browsing the classifieds more than usual and wondering if I should buy this bit or that bit of kit. So far the urge to invest further in more boxes for this crazy hobby has been resisted and instead purchased more vinyl to enjoy on the current system. It's always pleasurable opening up a delivery and then sitting down for a listen.

Wishing all the best to those that are having difficult times.