Reader Michael Shaw made me aware of ASMR, which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.
From Wikipedia:
“ASMR is an experience characterized by a static-like or tingling sensation on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine. It has been compared with auditory-tactile synesthesia and may overlap with frisson.
ASMR signifies the subjective experience of “low-grade euphoria” characterized by “a combination of positive feelings and a distinct static-like tingling sensation on the skin”. It is most commonly triggered by specific auditory or visual stimuli, and less commonly by intentional attention control.”
In other words, ASMR describes the same feeling many of us in the high-end experience with new music, new gear, or when we elevate our system’s performance to a higher level. It’s the drug we all look for in high-end audio.
I never knew it had a name, but I guess I should have figured. Seems we have to label everything these days. But, name or not, it certainly describes with pinpoint precision exactly the feeling I get when the system sings better.
What’s been your ASMR experience?
