@arro222 have you actually heard/noticed a significantly degraded sound quality? You mention 4000hz as a demarcation … ALL fundamentals live below that, as well as a lot of harmonics (for voices, and instruments whose fundamentals top out considerably lower). Hearing those missing harmonics through just one ear may not be making much of a negative impact.
hearing loss and amp choices
Found out yesterday that I have about 25-30% hearing loss in the right ear. Anything around 4000 hz and I display a sharp drop.
Currently looking for a new integrated such as the Vsi75, Sim Audio 700 series, Pass int 25, Belles Aria Sig and my distributor recommended the Rotel RA 6000 series which they are about to carry this month.
The speakers are the very neutral and flat Studio 100's by ProAc.
My question revolves around the fact of hearing loss vs. expense for SQ. In other words what am i doing to be looking at a 10 or 16 thousand dollar int if my hearing won't appreciate it?
Do I look for something more articulated like the Rotel? Can I appreciate the nuances of tube gear with their richness?
Had Primare stuff (I-30) prior to this but it blew during a power surge and to tell the truth, thought the sound was a bit sterile with this series with little mid bass weight. Now I wonder if all this doesn't matter and should be looking for something with articulation that previously may have thought as "cold".
Just exploring what some of you may have experienced with any hearing loss in regard to previously perceived perceptions to SQ.
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@mahgister ...*G* This Wed. for me.....'youngster'. *L* @arro222 ...Restaurants still are a basket of noise to me, but my aids can be 'focused' so at least I can converse....to some degree of sense. ;) I've tinnitus as well, loud machines and loud music brought me down. And with what you've experienced of late likely did a tap dance on the way your mind is 'listening' for you. At this point, anything that works for you is a good thing. *S* Good luck & happy hunting, J |
@hotei and ghdprentice: Always wanted tubes thru these ProAcs. Had the Manley Stingray once but that piece was more ss sounding. Had a friend who lent me his Quick Silver triode mono amps. I think they just made 100 of those. Those were sublime but ran very hot. Always wanted the Vsi75 when I first saw it. It was so compact and "together" looking. Why they made their new I 50 case work so hideous looking is beyond me or else might have sprung for that. What bothers me is when the 75 first came out, I saw it at $7950. Should have followed my heart then. Now it's 10K and i don't know what changed except the price. I understand it is not being made any longer. So on my short list is the Raven Osprey, Vsi 75, Rotel 6000RA (which is said to have a lot of Michi innards), and the Moon 700 series int. (dunno why that's at 16K. have to look inside). At least I will no longer consider to not being "ear worthy" for these more favored brands. Life has enough road blocks w/o imparting another one upon thyself. |
Well sir I am intrigued by your acoustic experiments. I understand you have a Sansui as your amp. I know some of these models are still sought after as nonpareil in SQ to this day. I am very limited to acoustic nuance trials as I have no dedicated listening room. More like a "listening space" within the living room. |
I only had the luck to had a dedicated room, and i coould not afford any piece of gear or any costly acoustic product... These bad circonstances with low income, unbeknownst to me at this time, was my luck... I read basic acoustic and psycho-acoustic principles... I experimented with them day by day for 2 years, and 6 months intensively, because i am retired... The result is ugly because i used junk to create my devices and it is not perfect... But it gave me an understanding about what really matter in audiophile experience, and it is not the gear ALONE...It is the mechanical, electrical and acoustical embeddings control of the system... Thats all...
My Sansui AU 7700 is not the best amplifier, especially compared to some design of today... But it is certainly , if we take into account all his functions and versatility, and his organic sound one of the best deal quality/price ratio on the market...It is a mytrh for this reason... I dont bought it by chance, i read everything for years...my luck was discovering one 10 streets from my house at low price... 😁😊 Try some simple experiment listening in the corner you use for music, you will be surprized... Most people are afraid to experiment because they are afraid to be wrong or experiment something with is not perfect... Trust your earseven in their present states or health status... It is you who will listen music on your system/room....But it is an ingoing process... There is no perfection in my system/room, only satisfaction at low cost with no urge to upgrade at all.... My 8 headphones dont compete, then it is enough for me...
I wish you the best... |
I have read these responses and at least I know I am not alone with a hearing loss problem. Work related over a 38 year period.. For the last 3 plus years I have been using the Phonak bolero with a music setting. My audiologist is the most patient person as we are constantly chasing a moving target as my hearing gradually gets worse. I just traded speakers for my Spendor classic 2/3s. Easier to listen to and I use Bel Canto E1x amp and transport. I wake up each day and its like my head is under water. I need to have my aids in for hours before listening to allow my brain to adjust to the new sound. I must adjust the level of music to not over load my hearing. Classical and unamplified music works best. A compromise that allows me to listen for a few hours at a time. The ringing never stops and it grows worse the longer I listen. I am accepting the fact that over time I will no longer be able to enjoy listening to music or much of anything else. Maybe one day the technology will come along to solve my/everyone's hearing loss but for now its touch and go. Best of luck to all of you with hearing loss and for you other guys who hear o.k. take care of your hearing as you only get 2 ears. Hearing is not eyesight which can easily be fixed with prescription glasses and all is well. It just does not work that way with hearing loss. Without my hearing aids I might as well not even cut on my system because it just sucks. |
Absolutely wear hearing protection inside your helmet when riding. The wind noise alone will damage your hearing over time. Also, behind the ear hearing aids are the way to go, unobtrusive and no need to miniaturize as much as the in ear ones. Nobody notices mine. Finally, it's not smart to put off getting hearing aids. The ear brain connection deteriorates if impaired hearing is prolonged and it takes longer to re-establish it the longer you go. My Oticons only made my system sound MUCH better than listening with hearing loss (mostly highs, but very specific bands of frequency). |
Go to a great, not good, but great audiologist, get a hearing test, and buy the top of the line Phonax hearing aid for the impaired ear. They come with 3 band tone and volume controls plus options I’ve not even tried. Huge difference. It’s not the gear, it’s your ear. I’ve suffered from Ménière’s disease since 2002 and now am down 70% in my left ear. The Phonax allows me to enjoy my system. I also installed a Schitt 4 band EQ unit which can boost the frequencies you are missing. Plus my line stage pre has separate volume controls for each side which helps me make further adjustments. My amp is a Pass X250.8, the pre is a First Sound with dual mono volume controls and dual external power supplies. |
Two things: (1) I think the comments about EQ are right on. Consider some of the digital EQ you can get from Roon or similar. You don't have to put it through a box with lots of levers if you don't want to. (2) Subwoofers - especially a good REL - will help add depth and dare I say warmth to the sound. Some visceral thump is useful to re-enhance the experience. Happy listening and good luck! |
So I have listened to the ARC Vsi 75 for about 8 months. It is to my taste as it is natural, resolute, deep and wide sound stage and articulated enough w/o being sterile. Instruments and voice appear "in the room" like as well as spot on timbre. It has just the right amount of distortion for my tastes to produce musical weight w/o too much loss on high end. It is perfect for me as it relates to my taste in music reproduction much like Wild West Pizza out west in Montana had the perfectly tasting pizza I have ever had along with Gould’s Sugar House in Shelburne Falls Ma. had the best pancakes i’ve ever had. So the ARC is as perfectly balanced as the pizza and pancakes from the above mentioned places.
If anyone is interested, there is a guy selling brand new Vsi 75’s for $5995. I believe the place is called Paragon Audio |
