Portable vs Stationary Listening

[K2Grey]

Hi,

Am I the only one who finds that he actually listens more critically and with greater attention with a portable player than when at home? When I'm out, I usually focus my attention on the music, for example when walking around, or waiting for classes, etc. there are no distractions from the music. While at home I listen to music at the same time I do other things and as such my attention is not on the music. And in addition, at home, if I was to spend time just listening and not doing other stuff at the same time, I would rather do it on the bed or somewhere else that is more comfortable than a chair, and not have to get up to go to the computer or CD player and change tracks or whatever.

This being the case, maybe I should spend more time and money on my portable setup than my home setup. The only problem is that the lack of gapless on portable players, other than the Karma which has no support at all in case of HD failure, makes it so that certain albums can only be really listened to with a stationary player. Although I've heard that there is some way to set up songs on an iPod so that you can rip the whole CD as 1 file, but with pre-inserted bookmarks separating all the tracks.

Does anyone else share the same opinion and feeling?

[kukyfrope]

I do more analytical listening at home, probably because I spend more time at home in a quiet room. Usually listening while at the computer doing things, but people live different lifestyles I guess.

[socrates63]

Now that you mention it, I think you're on to something. My office rig is my hi-end rig but in the office, I usually work as I listen to music. My active attention to what I'm listening to comes and goes.

I probably listen most actively and critically when I go out to check the mail at night. I live at the end of a cul-de-sac and the mailbox is located about a block away -- probably five minutes round trip. Looking up at the night sky and breathing in the cool moist air is very refreshing.