The "Cupped" ear effect !

[madmac]

Us audio snobs are a weird bunch..........I know that.........I accept that. So, what I'm about to say 'may' sound weird but here goes nothing................ :roll:

I'm 52 years old (somewhat degraded hearing?) and my gear is in somewhat of a dead room. Some recent adjustments have improved my sound immensely but I do something with my ears when I 'really' want to hear everything clearly!!

I take my hands......raise them........cup them......and hold them up to and behind my ears!!! This grabs more sound and funnels it into my ears!!! The results are quite dramatic! If you've never tried this then try it!! It's amazing how different results can be had by moving the cupped hands back and forward around your ears too.

I know......I'm crazy 8O

[Alaric]

Doesn't sound crazy at all. But I wonder if that actually introduces another reflection that affects the phasing of when different frequencies arrive , making the sound more coherent to your brain's processing center ?

[Heli-Tim]

This grabs more sound and funnels it into my ears!!! The results are quite dramatic

Lol, been down this road before. Your not crazy unless I am too (which is actually a realistic possibility ;p )
I used to do this while trying to learn music by ear. I find it easier to separate guitar from the rest of the sound-stage when cupping my ears.
Its also the cheapest in-line pass-through volume control

[madmac]

I'm glad to hear that I am not alone in my crazy music listening shenanigans! That being said, I've thought about fabricating a "ear cup headset" that could be placed on the head producing a Mickey Mouse ears effect that would free up my tired arms. HEY.........MY ARMS GET TIRED DOING THIS !!

But really folks......think about this! Most other mammals in this world have cupped ears!! Dogs......cats......RATS!!....etc. These animals are known to have better hearing than us humans right???!!! CUPPED EARS ROCK !!

[Alaric]

They already make such a device!

[Heli-Tim]

They already make such a device!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]24904[/ATTACH]

You make a fair point, lol

[Kal Rubinson]

They already make such a device!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]24904[/ATTACH]

Nah. The relevant device is:

[Alaric]

Nah. The relevant device is:

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[madmac]

Nah. The relevant device is:

Oh my God !! It already exists !!! A tad over done and could sound a bit 'tinny' but NICE !! I would recommend something like this but in kid leather to warm up the sound a bit!!