What Music Makes Your Cans "Disappear"?

[ElectricBlack]

This subject was taken out of the thread regarding the request for "disappearing heaphones".

Have you experienced an effect where the headpones themselves seem to disppear and leave you with just music, spatious music, that seems to surround you? A sonic hologram.

If so, what is your setup? How reliably have you gotten this effect? Has it been with every song, or only certain songs or types of source materials? Also, have other people heard the same effect when listening your setup?

I suspect that the "disappearing headphones" effect is highly recording-dependant. Recordings containing the most/best spatial information are probably going to be the best for reproducing the effect.

If anybody else cares to agree, disagree, comment, please do so. It would be very interesting to hear any suggestions you have re: particular songs/artists which help to give the best effect.

Specific information like this allows a person to test/experiment.

Music by Enya has by far been the most likely to surround me. Madonna's "Candy Perfume Girl" has worked often as well. Another artist which has worked reliably for me is "Trance to the Sun". Most rock music has not worked well.

EDIT: Finished editing.

 

[Firestarter]

I completely agree, I also think it largely depends on the recording. Heck, I've even had the 25-1's disappear from my head!

 

[jonnywolfet]

pink floyd, dark side of the mood
tool, lateralus
opeth, still life
neurosis, eye of every storm
jeff buckley, grace
old man gloom, chrismas
king crimson, court of the crimson king

i have had 'holographic' experiences with these albums with various equipment, through, ex71 unamped to e4c amped with a mint (obviously its much better with the latter,) but im a firm beleiver that it is the nature of the musical masterpiece which has the biggest swing on how you hear/listen to it. all these albums are utterly compelling to listen to, grab me by the b*lls and draw me in. its bliss at the moment with my current rig, it was bliss back then when i had the sonys, its all a matter of lying back and closing your eyes.......

 

[fewtch]

Various classical pieces... but I've only experienced this effect with the DT880. Never happens with the K501, or Senn HD580/600, or DT250 or any other headphones I've tried.

 

[ElectricBlack]

jonnywolfet, you make a good point that the listener's involvement in the performance can produce a sense of being surrounded by the sound. I notice you claim a surrounding effect even from non-reverberant recordings.

fewtch, how well do those classical recordings convey the ambiance of the performance hall? IOW, are they expansive-sounding recordings?

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectricBlack fewtch, how well do those classical recordings convey the ambiance of the performance hall? IOW, are they expansive-sounding recordings?

Very well, and very expansive. I guess my point is that (at least for me) the effect requires really transparent/neutral/fast headphones and good amping, not just the right music. Even then, it's uncommon and dependent on mood & situation, among other things. My brain has to be in appropriate circumstances to be fooled.

 

[jonnywolfet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch Very well, and very expansive. I guess my point is that (at least for me) the effect requires really transparent/neutral/fast headphones and good amping, not just the right music. Even then, it's uncommon and dependent on mood & situation, among other things. My brain has to be in appropriate circumstances to be fooled.

i find a good (bottle of) red wine aids the brain into an appropriate circumstance.

booze + awesome music =

 

[ken36]

I guess my system is pretty good and is a great place to start, That is a given. Then for the magic to occur it depends on my attitude, willingness, mood and finally my choice of music. The biggest bang is when I hear a track that I really like for the first time under these proper circumstances.

It happened last week: Unchained Melody-Il Divo

 

[HFat]

For me, live music in general: it doesn't have to be classical or even acoustic. Aside from the music proper, I feel that crowd noises or stuff like musicians clapping along in middle-eastern folk helps a lot.

That or certain psychoactive substances... "appropriate circumstances" indeed: the crappiest gear easily disappears. I think one should be able to attain the right state of mind safely without ingesting anything, but that sounds like work.
Failing that, the right ceremonial/mystical/rave music may just work for you if you listen to it long enough.

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnywolfet i find a good (bottle of) red wine aids the brain into an appropriate circumstance. booze + awesome music =

Amen.

 

[Firestarter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnywolfet i find a good (bottle of) red wine aids the brain into an appropriate circumstance. booze + awesome music =

never fails me either

 

[The_Duke_Of_Eli]

It depends on:

> Good quality sound, most likely WAV or lossless
> Comfortable cans
> Comfortable area to listen to your cans (big chair)

 

[fatko]

It happened once to me using Ety ER4P on the street.

 

[ElectricBlack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFat For me, live music in general: it doesn't have to be classical or even acoustic. Aside from the music proper, I feel that crowd noises or stuff like musicians clapping along in middle-eastern folk helps a lot.

Ambient sounds definitely provide a sense of space.

Quote:

That or certain psychoactive substances... "appropriate circumstances" indeed: the crappiest gear easily disappears. I think one should be able to attain the right state of mind safely without ingesting anything, but that sounds like work. Failing that, the right ceremonial/mystical/rave music may just work for you if you listen to it long enough.

It doesn't take too long. I can vouch for this one.

 

[Scotty757]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnywolfet i find a good (bottle of) red wine aids the brain into an appropriate circumstance. booze + awesome music =

Various other mind-expanding substances can dramatically improve your involvement in the music as well.

I am, of course, talking about visualization programs. What did you deliquents THINK i was talking about??