Equalizer to compensate for hearing loss - Any success stories?


65-year-old retired gent here has been wearing Oticon top-of-the-line hearing aids for three years now. My hearing loss is quite pronounced (see audiogram link herein).

Using my iPhone and AirPod pros with this audiogram from the (Health app) yields spectacular results. Now I’d like to see what can be achieved using an equalizer to mimic my audiogram and an amp driving floor standing speakers.

Soliciting your informed feedback/opinions.

 

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@elliottbnewcombjr I can't thank you enough for this recommendation. Not only does it directly address my needs, but is amazingly inexpensive. I will order one today!

I was wondering if the sound quality of music is diminished using a hearing aid.

Feedback from my fellow users most appreciated.


I looked at theSchiit Loki as suggested. in my original post see the link to my audiogram which is a frequency response analysis for each year. Like many older listeners, I have a sharp high frequency rollof.f And mine is at 1 kHz. accordingly, the equalizer must have an adjustment near 1 kHz.


unfortunately the Loki jumps from 400 Hz to 2 kg hertz with no adjustment in between. Maybe this won’t make any difference but I have a fair amount of experience with seismic frequency analysis as I am a retired geophysicist. there’s not much of a market out there for equalizers anymore and I’m looking at some of the units which allow for finer adjustment intervals.

 

If you’ve ever worn hearing aids you you know they are absolutely terrible as Music transducers. not even up to the standards of a second rate in-ear pod. So the plan is to enjoy loudspeaker music without the aids in your ear. Certain hearing aid manufacturers are touting their devices As more music friendly. Trust me, they're all shite.

 

i’m looking forward to purchasing the next generation of Apple AirPod Max over the ear headphones as I have had wonderful results using AirPod pros with the audiogram correction feature (see original post). This seems to be exclusive to Apple, but the source files must be on an apple device. I use an NAS with.FLAC files and Sonos app to feed my floorstanding speakers.

 

anyway, you guys have given me some great ideas and I may reach out to you individually.

yours, Doug

 

Equalizers: Schitt; Rockville; DBX; Chinese Branded DBX

Dual Channel (l&r separate); 31 bands (1/3 octave) give the best flexibility. 1/3 band effects adjacent frequencies less than 15 or 10 or … band units.

First: adjust l/r individually for the space if needed: then an alternate adjustment l/r individually for your hearing if needed. Nearly all have Bypass Feature (pass thru) to retain a preset EQ curve when in-line; no eq action when bypassed. Some units have Memories for several curves.

Bypass could work if you have your hearing aids in, and/or friends with ‘normal’ hearing with you. A curve for your ’hearing aids out’ could work, perhaps more precisely than your hearing aid(s).

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Schitt Lokius 6 band equalizer adjusts both L and R together, much less versatile for a space and/or your individual ears.

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Rockville Equalizers DO NOT have Center Detents letting you feel when a slider is centered. If a unit is located other than eye-level, that is a helpful feature.

If you bought one, and that makes a difference, they have free returns, they send you a prepaid label, you drop at UPS.

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DBX Dual Channel 31 Band Equalizers HAVE Center Detents. Models 231; 1231; 2231.

The models 231 and 1231 both are 2 U (U = 1-3/4” rack height) 3.5” high.

Model 2231 adds optional DBX type 3 noise reduction, (and other features) and is 3 U high 5.25”. Even if you do not need the extra features, the sliders are ‘taller’, easier to adjust than shorter ones, if you can fit the extra 1-3/4” extra height in a workable location.

DBX (made in Malaysia, i.e. assembled in Malaysia with Chinese parts) and Many Chinese Units use the same 231; 1231; 2231 designs. Most have identical features in identical locations, identical sizes and weights. Some, not dbx labeled on the front are labeled ‘harmon …’ on the back.

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One 2231unit EB831EQ ($190. Free shipping) I found on eBay is located in USA, thus shipping, 60 day return is in USA. Verify voltage/plug for your country.

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Others exist of course.