And a lot of their purchases of goods and services are made to improve their appearance.
They just have different priorities than most men do.
New Study Reports Women Hear Better than Men
- Thread starter Ron Resnick
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They just have different priorities than most men do.
I stan by what I said: "women constantly buying regular, cheap stuff." For some rich women, even Chanel is considered cheap. I don't think any women is saving up her minimum wage to buy Chanel. Men is created for that purpose. BTW I don't know anything about Chanel's business model- you should ask rich men.
I've admitted this before, but I confess that I like sound as much as I like music. I find that timbres, textures, tones, transients (and probably a whole lot of other things beginning with "t") do something to my brain that "thrills" it. Yes, I am absolutely moved by melody, but there are other parts to the musical listening experience that are equally important to me.
That's not the case with my wife. She absolutely does not seem to care about a recording's fidelity. I wonder if she can hear "through" poor recordings or playback chains in ways that I can't? Or perhaps melody is more important to her, as a person who is more emotionally-connected than me?
I've considered that my enjoyment of jazz might be partially related to the appeal that instrumental sounds have for me. The often-sparser instrumentation allows those sound characteristics to stand out more clearly. Again, my wife doesn't enjoy jazz.
None of this has anything to do with women's greater hearing sensitivity, but I do think it's relevant to men's greater interest in hifi reproduction.
That's not the case with my wife. She absolutely does not seem to care about a recording's fidelity. I wonder if she can hear "through" poor recordings or playback chains in ways that I can't? Or perhaps melody is more important to her, as a person who is more emotionally-connected than me?
I've considered that my enjoyment of jazz might be partially related to the appeal that instrumental sounds have for me. The often-sparser instrumentation allows those sound characteristics to stand out more clearly. Again, my wife doesn't enjoy jazz.
None of this has anything to do with women's greater hearing sensitivity, but I do think it's relevant to men's greater interest in hifi reproduction.
because they realize how far hiend is off the mark
Study shows women can hear better than men
An international team of scientists has found that biological sex is the leading factor explaining differences in hearing sensitivity, with women having significantly more sensitive hearing than men.
www.news-medical.net
Says no married man ever …..!
Well, if that means reading threads on WBF, especially ones like this one...well, the conclusion presents itself.
If one has the chance to meet women scientists/engineers/professors/doctors/etc, one might have a different view of what interests women and what their goals and abilities are.
In the last 30 or so years, the audiophile hobby has become focused on technology and equipment - something most women don't find interesting.
Also, the individualistic nature of the hobby, where most people often enjoy it alone, might also explain the lack of women's participation.
Women have a stronger preference for social and interactive activities, valuing company and conversation, as other studies show
It's a bit like do you like Marvel movies. If not, why not? While initially there might be some curiosity of the character, at one point there become just too many characters and too many versions of them, each is the same thing over and over and often they are nowhere compared to the good movies and TV shows. If you are a collector or marvel, you might be waiting for each Avenger series to know the "nuance" of every story and character and buy each memorabilia, but those discerning ones with better movie taste will soon drop out of this
Another analogy is that women work out in gyms as much as men, but those hanging out on forums squabbling are usually men and those experimenting with different barbells, their knurls, checking if the bar makes a sound when dropped, which bumper plates bounce least, and trying out different brands of power racks are almost always men.
and I've never seen a comment such as (actual quote) "I feel so swole" from a woman athlete after a workout. Or, a guy dismissing that body weight and weight lifted are related: "Stuff weighs what it weighs."
Interesting. My wife enjoys our system but she's said many times that the nuances I obsess over don't matter to her. If I ask her to compare cables, for instance, she can do it and we generally hear the same thing. It's just that in her case, such nuances do not tend to distract her or detract from her listening enjoyment. I can't say whether this is due to superior hearing, though.
And, btw, she is smarter than I am in many ways that have nothing to do with motherhood.
And, btw, she is smarter than I am in many ways that have nothing to do with motherhood.
What's new: Gender differences in a longitudinal study of age-associated hearing loss, 1995: https://listenlikealawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/29e52-pearsonetal1995.pdf.
Abstract: "...Since 1965, the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging has collected hearing thresholds from 500 to 8000 Hz using a pulsed-tone tracking procedure. Mixed-effects regression models were used to estimate longitudinal patterns of change in hearing thresholds in 681 men and 416 women with no evidence of otoiogical disease, unilateral hearing loss, or noise-induced hearing loss. The results show (1) hearing sensitivity declines more than twice as fast in men as in women at most ages and frequencies, (2) longitudinal sensitivity are detectable
at all frequencies declines in hearing among men by age 30, but the age of onset of decline is later in women at most frequencies and varies by frequency in women, (3) women have more sensitive hearing than men at frequencies above 1000 Hz but men have more sensitive hearing than women at lower frequencies..."
Abstract: "...Since 1965, the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging has collected hearing thresholds from 500 to 8000 Hz using a pulsed-tone tracking procedure. Mixed-effects regression models were used to estimate longitudinal patterns of change in hearing thresholds in 681 men and 416 women with no evidence of otoiogical disease, unilateral hearing loss, or noise-induced hearing loss. The results show (1) hearing sensitivity declines more than twice as fast in men as in women at most ages and frequencies, (2) longitudinal sensitivity are detectable
at all frequencies declines in hearing among men by age 30, but the age of onset of decline is later in women at most frequencies and varies by frequency in women, (3) women have more sensitive hearing than men at frequencies above 1000 Hz but men have more sensitive hearing than women at lower frequencies..."
So it would seem this explains why I care much more about bass presentation than she does. Thanks!
Interesting, when measured, we have associates that have “better ears”, many are also younger... But as far as listening goes, better hearing doesn’t seem to always equate to better listening. I’ll bet my cat has better hearing than most women. And consequently he also spends more time sitting on the couch next to me listening than my wife. Ironically, if female cats have better hearing than male ones, it’s interesting that our female tabby doesn’t spend as much time in the room. Is it because my kit isn’t right?? 
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"But as far as listening goes, better hearing doesn’t seem to always equate to better listening"
What, exactly, is "better listening"? Are you implying there's some sort of commonly recognized hierarchy in which individuals (or genders) can be ranked ?
When guys describe their experiences of music, they very often talk first and foremost about sound and not only that, but they focus upon particular aspects of the sonic presentation. It seems to be all about deep concentration and breaking down the music into bits. Is this emphasis upon "close up/dissection" perception of parts what you mean by "better" listening?
I'd suggest women naturally tend to employ a more "global" approach. They enter into the listening experience without prioritizing the intellect. This is not effortful for them. Some may claim it's because they are less intelligent. To me, that claim sounds suspiciously like an expression of an unconscious prioritization of left brain thinking and devaluation of other types of intelligence that may be underutilized or not utilized at all. A global approach implies multiple modes of perception are employed simultaneously, including the intellect, without elevating any single mode one above the others. This also serves as a decent description of the state involved in art-making.
A global approach to listening is not dependent upon highly resolving gear. I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that many musicians do not save up for hi-end systems. Instead, they save up for more instruments. Musicians have to pay attention to both the micro and macro levels when creating music, as do poets, chefs, weavers, singers, potters, dancers, etc. but in the end, the goal is to produce something that transcends an "assemblage of parts", in which "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts" . By all means, consider the parts in order to appreciate the craft, but if that's your main focus, you risk missing out on the full impact of the art -- the content. I'd argue this demands utilization of all modes of perception, not only the mode that facilitates focusing upon the parts. Prioritizing a capacity for focusing upon parts hardly seems "better", if that's what's being implied.
What, exactly, is "better listening"? Are you implying there's some sort of commonly recognized hierarchy in which individuals (or genders) can be ranked ?
When guys describe their experiences of music, they very often talk first and foremost about sound and not only that, but they focus upon particular aspects of the sonic presentation. It seems to be all about deep concentration and breaking down the music into bits. Is this emphasis upon "close up/dissection" perception of parts what you mean by "better" listening?
I'd suggest women naturally tend to employ a more "global" approach. They enter into the listening experience without prioritizing the intellect. This is not effortful for them. Some may claim it's because they are less intelligent. To me, that claim sounds suspiciously like an expression of an unconscious prioritization of left brain thinking and devaluation of other types of intelligence that may be underutilized or not utilized at all. A global approach implies multiple modes of perception are employed simultaneously, including the intellect, without elevating any single mode one above the others. This also serves as a decent description of the state involved in art-making.
A global approach to listening is not dependent upon highly resolving gear. I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that many musicians do not save up for hi-end systems. Instead, they save up for more instruments. Musicians have to pay attention to both the micro and macro levels when creating music, as do poets, chefs, weavers, singers, potters, dancers, etc. but in the end, the goal is to produce something that transcends an "assemblage of parts", in which "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts" . By all means, consider the parts in order to appreciate the craft, but if that's your main focus, you risk missing out on the full impact of the art -- the content. I'd argue this demands utilization of all modes of perception, not only the mode that facilitates focusing upon the parts. Prioritizing a capacity for focusing upon parts hardly seems "better", if that's what's being implied.
if that is the optimal listening position, then, yes, something in your setup might need adjustment. Or, do you listen in that position too?Interesting, when measured, we have associates that have “better ears”, many are also younger... But as far as listening goes, better hearing doesn’t seem to always equate to better listening. I’ll bet my cat has better hearing than most women. And consequently he also spends more time sitting on the couch next to me listening than my wife. Ironically, if female cats have better hearing than male ones, it’s interesting that our female tabby doesn’t spend as much time in the room. Is it because my kit isn’t right??
Nope, this is his resting posture after being caught up in the rapture of a magnificent performance. About two hours into listening.
I’ve been known to take nearly the same pose.
Here is an old snap of my previous listening/living room, with different loudspeakers and Bibeane and I listening proper in the sweet spot. They can be very intensely focused on HiFi reproduction.
But to the point of the thread, all kidding aside, I would contend that an intense love and desire often makes a more fulfilled listener, more so than simply someone with “better” hearing numbers. Much like a piece of gear that measures “better” in some regards, does not always communicate the emotion of a beautiful performance.
Bibeane's relative ear position tells me the soundstage is shifted to the left.Nope, this is his resting posture after being caught up in the rapture of a magnificent performance. About two hours into listening.
I’ve been known to take nearly the same pose.
Here is an old snap of my previous listening/living room, with different loudspeakers and Bibeane and I listening proper in the sweet spot. They can be very intensely focused on HiFi reproduction.
But to the point of the thread, all kidding aside, I would contend that an intense love and desire often makes a more fulfilled listener, more so than simply someone with “better” hearing numbers. Much like a piece of gear that measures “better” in some regards, does not always communicate the emotion of a beautiful performance.
View attachment 148914
Obviously, a music lover. With all those tubes, I can see why the fireplace isn't needed in winter. Joking aside, looks like a very comfortable space and very nice setup.
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