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Accounting for slight hearing loss

On a whim and with a suspicion, I recently had a hearing test and it showed some loss in left.  Mainly around 3k and then recovers some above that.  I had noticed (after many good tips gathered on Agon) after really paying attention to set up and room, featured vocal/instrument was often right of center, almost never left.  Mind you, i still hear all freq, even quite  high and get great staging but often, its annoyingly with a right bias.  Maybe that's where he's supposed to be!  Thats actually not a trivial point.  Funny thing, I can listen to MD Kind of Blue in mono and I sense no shift. Quite opposite as instruments still have some staging. Go figure.  

Any tips or tweaks to compensate?  Ok, here's where I might be all wet.  Lower resistance to tweeter in left XO (phase issues with right?)  A mod to extend left baffle above the tweeter some?  Simple "Left" on amp works but isnt freq specific.  Im suspicious that using an EQ unit will degrade overall sound although that seems the most obvious.  Do they?  Speakers are Madisound kit Klang+Ton NADA designed with Scanspeak Illuminator drivers.  In Lee Taylor cabinets.  Amp is Rogue Sphinx V2 (A/D). 
Thanks in advance.  Otherwise it's a tad "L" on the amp.
akgwhiz

Showing 5 responses by akgwhiz

akgwhiz OP
177 posts
 
Sorry all, I was travelling and doing this thread during it.  George, yes I clicked wrong one.  If I do anything in way of more electronics in stream, I'd prefer the analog method at the end.  Since it's only affecting mid/highs I'm starting with a pair of brighter tubes for my preamp stage.  Add a tad "L" and see if its better.  Honestly, it's barely a problem but yeah, its detectable. Not degenerative but from too much hunting, shooting over the years without protection, even outdoors.  String, i agree.  While they may balance the perception in each ear they are about the definition of Lo-Fi (as used here) and usually focus on the voice portion of spectrum only.  Thanks all for help.  Great points.  And wear protection in all loud hobbies/pursuits! 
akgwhiz OP
177 posts
 
Erik, just looked  at Loki.  Inexpensive enough to try.  But it can go between transport and DAC? I use a Cambridge CXC to an MHDT Orchid.  Otherwise it's my ProJect TT to Vincent Pho8. 

Jaytor, I like your thinking.  Simple enough but I've  made the right wall absorptive some already. 
akgwhiz OP
177 posts
 
Erik, thanks for the leads!  This would likely suffice to "retune" my output rather than differentially doing this on the speakers.  Doing it in the xo would likely result in differential impedance and likely phase curves, between speakers.  Now I need to research how to convert my HPL left ear profile to SPL.  It's a non linear problem but solvable.  Thanks to all who made suggestions.  I love my result to date but can only imagine it improving.  Its actually a slight reduction as I can still hear differences to tubes, sources, and the likes of toe in and tilt.  
akgwhiz OP
177 posts
 
Thanks George, your point is well taken and what was on my mind.  I have a really nice DAC with nice tubes so adding another DAC in the chain seems risky as DSP has to convert it first.  Still, any comments on Loki (analog) messing with relative phases and therefore imaging?  But yeah, I'm liking this route.  Thanks all!  
akgwhiz OP
177 posts
 
Erik, just make sure I understand.  A DSP between my transport and DAC will convert with it's own DAC, do its eq, then convert back to the undecoded format (ADC).  Then my MHDT will see it as before. 

Alternatively,  the Loki is at the end if the chain and will do it's own internal ADC, process, then DAC on the way to amp. 

Seems either way, it's another DAC/ADC or ADC/DAC!  I'm guessing theres no free lunch and you get what you pay for!

I'm leaning towards a little Left on the balance knob, even though it's full spectrum.  The lows are less easily located so less to disrupt the imaging.

As someone who's built similar speakers, is placing a reflective "extension" on top of the left speaker going to do anything of consequence?  I think the xo is 2500hz so that's perfect.

Thanks all Agonners for the input.  This is a prime example of folks just trying to help and sharing insights. I'm traveling right now and may report back with news if its constructive.
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