How long (on average) can you listen to an audio system in one sitting before you get listener fatigue?

We all have different thresholds for listener fatigue

How long (on average) can you listen to an audio system in one sitting before you get listener fatigue?
10 minutes
3% (5 votes)
20 minutes
1% (2 votes)
30 minutes
5% (9 votes)
45 minutes
6% (11 votes)
1 hour
5% (9 votes)
1.5 hours
7% (13 votes)
2 hours
15% (29 votes)
3 hours
16% (30 votes)
4 hours
9% (18 votes)
I <I>never</I> get fatigued
34% (66 votes)
Total votes: 192

COMMENTS
Dave Bennett's picture

My audio system does not cause fatigue. Sometimes, if I've had a bad day, I find I can't listen to it at all, other times it's exactly what I need and can listen for hours. If I'm not already fatigued I can listen all day.

Allen's picture

The maximum I have ever listened is about three hours straight and showing no signs of fatigue, so really, I don't know. However that was at night. I do get occasionally itchy when listening in the day when I can see the sun shining outside!

Al Earz's picture

I really am not sure if it is listener fatigue or just the guilt that I should be doing some chore around the house. I am possibly reluctant in my agreement with the sub-conscience conclusion that the audio gear presents as much enjoyment in working on it as is listening to it.

John O&#039;Meara's picture

It's probably a lot longer, but I want to be conservative. The truth is that I don't get a chance to sit down and actually test the limits nearly often enough.

F.  Chanisovsky, Van Nuys, CA's picture

I've fallen asleep in my listening chair (a problem when you spin wax like I do), but I've never become fatigued. As a footnote, if you become fatigued in your listening environment (head-in-a-vice), it's time to make some changes.

Teresa's picture

With a tubed SACD player I never experience listener fatigue.

Colin Robertson's picture

I usually will fall asleep long before fatigue sets in. Thats what I get for doing my listening at night... I believe that fatigue is mostly dependent on the system being listened to. Most speakers nowadays are pretty bright which leads to fatigue faster than anything else. Examples I've heard include Martin Logans, Magnapans, and the worst: Klipsche horn speakers! I find that trully accurate speakers, while they don't "stand out" like other speakers, are the least fatiguing. Look for time and phase accurate stuff from Thiel and Vandersteen.

Paul J.  Stiles, Mtn.  View, CA's picture

It depends on the music and the audio system. With engaging music and a nice system, I can sit for hours.

sam s.'s picture

i never tire of my system because it have the quality that took such a long time to get.if anything i don't have enough time to do more listening.

Doug McCall's picture

It really depends on the volume level. I find that my late-night, low volume listening sessions can go literally all night long with no listener fatigue. But if I am cranking things up considerably, say with peaks in the 95-100dB range, I am good for at most, three to four hours.

Anoni Mouse's picture

I can—and do—listen all day. My mood, and therefore genre of music, may change as the day progresses, but I never tire of my system.

Shahrukh Dandiwala's picture

I guess it depends on your system too.

Anonymous's picture

I love MUSIC!

SamoJ's picture

It depends of so many factors that for me you should include "All of above" option. Sometimes I got nervous after few seconds of listening, but the other day I can listen for hours without any sign of discomfort.

Al Marcy's picture

I have CFS. Only my ears don't :)

Tony P., Washington, DC's picture

I don't listen to audio systems, I listen to *music* :)

Mannie Smith's picture

At 66 years of age, I'm happy I can stay awake for 2 hours AND that I can still hear!

John Rau's picture

It depends. If someone is playing pop trivia, rock trash, or those damn hog calling contests they hold on TNN,it takes about 30 seconds. If I'm listening to Brahms, Liszt, or Schumann, it takes a very long time. It also depends on the medium. I can listen longer to analog than digital

Tony R.  Harrison Sr.'s picture

Many, many years ago, prior to switching to the sweet sound of tubes, I was unable to listen more than an hour or so before fatigue would set in. Since switching, I am able to listen. endlessly.

Robert Kwolek's picture

It all depends on the system. Generally, fatigue starts much sooner if the speaker has a metal-dome tweeter.

James M.  Herr's picture

The key for me is to be listening to engrossing material. Interesting music played on an honest system can hold me for hours. Constraints of time are more likely than of fatigue.

Yiangos's picture

That is because very rarely i listen to others hi-fi system and if i do,it's only at a shop and usually not more than 10-15 minutes. When i listen to mine,whicj is tuned to my tastes,i never get "listener fatigue" usually it's my "bottom end" complaining lol and make me get off the chair lol

Randy's picture

Depends on how long my system has warmed up. After a good two to three hours with the tubes toasty and mellow, I can listen for hours.

T.  O.  Driskel's picture

Outside of the Kitchen and bathroom I'm never without tunes in some form. I have a shop, car and office system when I can't be in front on my main rig. I breath music! They are all of different quality as far as system gear but they all make fine music in their own right. As I set here at my PC listening to the Iguanas over my Cambridge Soundworks system I just wonder how many get to listen to fine music all through their workday. "Life is too short not to listen to music 7/24:)

Graeme Nattress's picture

Horns and tubes!! Fatigue? What's that?

Nodaker's picture

The goal is to make your system so there is not listener fatigue. If you have fatigue, you aren't finished tweeking or building your system.

Dimitris Gogas's picture

Have you noticed that almost everything lasts about an hour and a half? Concerts, basketball games, corporate meetings, etc. So, if you take five (or ten) minutes off at the half, it's 45 minutes. Not a very scientific approach, but it suits me.

Clay White's picture

The qualifier, "on average," makes this question hard to answer in any meaningful way. My real answer depends on what day it is. Sometimes I'm tuned in all evening, sometimes 30 minutes does it. I suspect that may be true of others as well.

Chris's picture

I put 4hrs, but it is more like 6 to 8 hours. But it depends on the material played, and of course longer when the source in analog.

Louis P.'s picture

I have recently done a three hour stretch on a Sunday when the planets were aligned and the house was empty. At night, pre-existing fatigue sets in long before that. Maybe if I didn't watch so much sports.....

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