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Considerations prior to your next purchase

I propose that applying the term audiophile to a person over fifty is an oxymoron and such, that person can’t really be trusted to make competent choices when it comes to purchasing or discerning what actually sounds best.


According to Decibel Hearing Services https://decibelhearing.com/high-frequency-hearing-loss/ it is very hard for a person over 50 to hear over 12,000hrz and I suspect that most in that group who consider themselves audiophiles probably can’t get close to that as we tend to enjoy or enjoyed in the past the louder volumes which is a known destroyer of high frequency hearing


If you notice from the linked chart most people over 18 can’t hear over 17,400hrs so truth be told the only true audiophiles are probably 12 year old girls. Because they can actually hear 20 to 20,000hrs they are the only group who are truly qualified to actually make component sound decisions


(The other option which actually might be easier is to train cats to make the decision but I’ll explore that in a later thread.)


What I’m proposing is actually based on the babysitting model where you would hire the true audiophiles to come either with you to the stereo shop or in your home space to perform the listening tests. The benefits to them would not only be short term CASH but also long term. I fear that the whole high end stereo complex is going to die out when the current crop of wanna be audiophiles die off. Just think in 10 years there would be a population of new listeners that could tell the difference from booming bass and flabby bass. They would be a catch for every 22 year old guy with a stereo. Maybe they could even effect the music scene where recording and dynamics matter.


Thoughts?


128x128danager

Showing 1 response by oldhvymec

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
When you are given a hearing test, it is at a given frequency, duration and amplitude.

Did you get the  "And AMPLITUDE, part"?

We lose some of the ability to hear at a give VOLUME, not lose the ability to hear all together. 

Second a lot of people have taken care of their EARS and health. It does pay in the long run..

BUT I have worked with a LOT of people and their hearing is just shot.. NO going back. Too bad too a lot of times it was just "NO EAR PLUGS" and a life of noise.. Guns, loud pipes, windows rolled down and driving, loud music, loud equipment. No protection. 

I still use ear plug through most of the day, I hear just fine with them in..
They come out at night, or at a listening session (I forget now and then). It's just the opposite of a lot of folks..

Regards
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