ambient/background noise

[Gadusmorhua]

What steps do people take to reduce ambient noise when they are listening to their hifi system?
I wondered this after watching a Steve Guttenborg YT video, where I could plainly hear the drone of NYC in the background, perhaps a window was open, but surely in an urban environment you end up enjoying your music mixed in with lots of extra noise, which sort of makes an audiophile's quest for purity ridiculous.
I'm lucky to live in a very quiet part of West Wales, with no neighbours, but the sound of a post rammer working 2km away is enough to spoil some recordings for me, and I get the dogs to move the sheep if they're getting too vocal for me. Some days it doesn't bother me, or I change the genre, and nightime is deathly quiet if I can stay awake.
However, if I had spent tens of thousands on gear I wouldn't want any extraneous sound, full stop.

 

[Al ears]

What steps do people take to reduce ambient noise when they are listening to their hifi system?
I wondered this after watching a Steve Guttenborg YT video, where I could plainly hear the drone of NYC in the background, perhaps a window was open, but surely in an urban environment you end up enjoying your music mixed in with lots of extra noise, which sort of makes an audiophile's quest for purity ridiculous.
I'm lucky to live in a very quiet part of West Wales, with no neighbours, but the sound of a post rammer working 2km away is enough to spoil some recordings for me, and I get the dogs to move the sheep if they're getting too vocal for me. Some days it doesn't bother me, or I change the genre, and nightime is deathly quiet if I can stay awake.
However, if I had spent tens of thousands on gear I wouldn't want any extraneous sound, full stop.

Headphones?

 

[matthewpianist]

There's very little you can do unless you are one of the tiny minority who can afford to have a dedicated listening room that can be soundproofed.

I live in a busy house, with my wife's two teenagers and one young adult, and it would be unreasonable for me to require everyone to stop their lives so I can listen with a quiet background. The house isn't even quite big enough for everyone. I've learned to pick my times where possible, and to filter out background noise as much as possible. I use headphones if everyone is about and I want to listen to something with very quiet passages.

As I've said previously, hi-fi can't rule the roost, and it has to fit into everyday life.

 

[Revolutions]

I love the sirens going up & down Brixton road day & night, plus the odd police helicopter every few days. When I go to the countryside, that silence is terrifying. Plus the nightmarish sounds of nature. I can't image what music sounds like in isolation without the beeping of reversing vans.

I remember a summer living in a transit van on a campsite in Cornwall. We used to throw bread on caravan roofs when people had a hangover. Oh, the seagulls loved to peck at the delicious snacks on those plastic ceilings. Anyway, I digress.

 

[Messiah]

I live on a busy main road and honestly I am so used to the additional noise that my mind just blanks it out.

I think if you do live somewhere that is really quiet you would notice the odd noise more.

Either way, does not really bother me. 😊

(Plus, could always turn it up but that may bother the neighbours! lol)

 

[Friesiansam]

I love the sirens going up & down Brixton road day & night, plus the odd police helicopter every few days. When I go to the countryside, that silence is terrifying. Plus the nightmarish sounds of nature. I can't image what music sounds like in isolation without the beeping of reversing vans.

I remember a summer living in a transit van on a campsite in Cornwall. We used to throw bread on caravan roofs when people had a hangover. Oh, the seagulls loved to peck at the delicious snacks on those plastic ceilings. Anyway, I digress.

Exactly the opposite of me. I love the quiet of living on the edge of a small village and, detest the noise and bustle of the big city.

 

[Gray]

I wondered this after watching a Steve Guttenborg YT video, where I could plainly hear the drone of NYC in the background

And he's probably one of those comparing the 'sound' of cables - absolutely ludicrous.

When I listen to the hi-fi, it's closed, double glazed windows and minimal sound - even a fan heater motor annoys me (although the scandalous cost of its 2,400 watts limits the duration of that to just keeping me alive).

 

[Cork]

I'm with you OP. While I can put up with a lot listening to rock; but ambient noise during jazz or classical drives me crazy. My wife cooking makes a racket, but I live in a suburb and the worst is leaf blowers; when they crank up I shut down the stereo and watch 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' for inspiration.

As for urban vs rural, I once visited my friends farm and the nighttime quit was so eerie I couldn't sleep. I'm sure I'd love it if had a chance to get used to it though.

As for what I do when listening - nothing - other than come back later when it's quieter.