Do Smokers Enjoy Music More?

[Ducatista47]

Perhaps a better title would be Does smoking affect taste in music?

“Then there is something called hedonic dysregulation,” Dr. Benowitz said. “It involves pleasure. Nicotine involves dopamine release, which is key in signaling pleasure. When people quit smoking, they don’t experience things they used to like as pleasure. Things are not as much fun as they used to be. It’s something you get over in time.” From this New York Times piece:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/us/29smoke.html?em

I usually attribute someone raving about how great some artist or song is - that is an artist or song that many consider trivial crapola - to the variety of taste humans have. Other reasons I notice are generous alcohol consumption while listening and nostalgic connections to pleasures past triggered by the music.

It appears that tobacco has an even greater effect on the basic level of pleasure an experience can afford. Any observations or thoughts? (I am not encouraging smoking here!)

Clark

[JBL 4645]

I can tell you one thing mate those JBL speakers are going to smell like pen and ink, phew!

[edgewound]

Not surprising at all.

Nicotine is in the same chemical family as cocaine. Alkaloids.

Here's an interesting link:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18685312.html

I guess it just makes a shitty life seem that much better.

[speakerdave]

Does this explain why the generality is happy with shit audio gear, bad food, petroleum fiber clothing, sitcoms, hypocritical religious leaders and "compassionate conservatism"?

[Ducatista47]

Does this explain why the generality is happy with shit audio gear, bad food, petroleum fiber clothing, sitcoms, hypocritical religious leaders and "compassionate conservatism"?

Not entirely. For example, about one in five USA citizens smoke but one out of two voted for Bush II twice. Maybe there is something in the water as well. From Firesign Theater:
(One radio host to the other)
"Who was born today?"
(Hesitates) "Why, no one, Hugh."
"No, I mean in history, before they changed the water."

I am hoping that California forum members with 4345's are happier than the average bear.

Clark

[speakerdave]

. . . . I am hoping that California forum members with 4345's are happier than the average bear. . . .

Accept that proximity to cheap semi-decent wine probably has the same effect you were discussing. No despair until I visit a friend or relative and they are listening to music from on iPod sitting in some kind of base with 1", 2", 3" or (for the deep bass) 4" speakers. Sometimes they have a seventies half-decent stereo sitting idle or packed away in the garage. They've forgotten they agonized for weeks over spec sheets and price lists before making the final choice at Pacific Stereo.

[edgewound]

I am hoping that California forum members with 4345's are happier than the average bear.

Clark

Thanks, Clark. Mostly, it's the weather. If I had 4345's I'd probably never leave the house.

[Ducatista47]

Accept that proximity to cheap semi-decent wine probably has the same effect you were discussing.

Wow, you know my wife Nancy?

No despair until I visit a friend or relative and they are listening to music from on iPod sitting in some kind of base with 1", 2", 3" or (for the deep bass) 4" speakers. Sometimes they have a seventies half-decent stereo sitting idle or packed away in the garage.

How low can a four inch speaker go? I think that my two inch JBL PLatinum Series may go to ~100hz, weakly, with wine.

Clark

[speakerdave]

. . . . How low can a four inch speaker go? . . . .

Don't know. My brain is too busy reading the chords and interpolating the bass notes.

[Hoerninger]

My brain is too busy reading the chords and interpolating the bass notes.

Bass Boost and some distortion can make live easier .
____________
Peter

[cooky1257]

Depends what you smoke.
Seriously people who smoke tend to suffer from bronchial catarrh and stuffed sinuses so probably not without treble boost!

[toddalin]

Wow, you know my wife Nancy?

Clark

Nancy Farber?

[Ducatista47]

Nancy Farber?

You mean, Nancy? We can't talk in here... Nick Danger, Third Eye

Actually, Nancy with some blood in her red wine stream, who only listens to show tunes and singers in general. Right now she is ill and I just warmed up her hot toddy in the microwave. At least it wasn't a Bose Wave.

[JBL 4645]

Not surprising at all.

Nicotine is in the same chemical family as cocaine. Alkaloids.

Here's an interesting link:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18685312.html

I guess it just makes a shitty life seem that much better.

I like my shitty life just as long as I have my cat and my JBL speakers. I’m content with my shitty life day in and day out.

Wow, you know my wife Nancy?

How low can a four inch speaker go? I think that my two inch JBL PLatinum Series may go to ~100hz, weakly, with wine.

Clark

Not sure if the JBL Control Micro is 4” its rated at 100Hz to 20KHz 40watts sensitivity 85db at 1 metre.

[Ducatista47]

How low can a four inch speaker go? I think that my two inch JBL PLatinum Series may go to ~100hz, weakly, with wine.
Clark

I was wrong, three inch speaker. 10% THD at three watts. Better keep it to one watt.


Technical Specifications
On/off/volume control and LEDFront panel of right speaker Line input jackDigital audio port input Sound output3 watt RMS per channel @ 10% total harmonic distortion (THD) Frequency response100 Hz to 20 kHz Sound pressure level86 dB (1 watt/1 meter) averaged at 300, 400, 500, and 600 Hz
Maximum of 93 dB at 3 watts Nominal impedance
(3-inch driver)4 ohms Dimensions (H x W x D)9 x 3.3 x 4 in (22.86 x 8.38 x 10.16 cm) per speaker WeightRight: 1.26 lb (572 g)Left: 1.12 lb (506 g) Power supply (USA)Input: 120V, 60Hz, 25WOutput: 12V (DC), 1 amp


Ash, how is Sooty?

Clark