My hearing's top frequency range has diminished but my hearing taste just gets better. Decades of loud guitar and I still mix live shows and play all the time. My hifi rig keeps evolving and it seems my brain just adjusts and everything is just there...run it flat with no EQ generally, just added a Pass XA-25 which is mind altering, I can notice differences in preamp tubes, cables, blah blah. Tinnitus means you're never alone...heh...don't worry, get great gear to compensate for your losses.
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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Only you can decide how much to spend with your hearing loss. I have had slight upper frequency hearing loss in my left ear since I was 25. I didn't effect my ability to perceive a solid image when listening. At 53, I lost about 75% from the left side. That completely eliminated any acoustic image and listening to music was bittersweet. Luckily it was a temporary condition that lasted 6 months. This experience made me appreciate how important listening to music was so I 'threw down' on some Tannoys. Tannoys have the ability to raise the high frequency level on each speaker so I bump it up a vit on the left speaker and it helps a bit. This is where vinyl shines. I prefer cartridges with a tipped up upper end now. Lot's of things you can do. One lesson Iu learned is to never give up on your body.
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@ashlypm , true enough but not everyone has the same level of deficiency. I enjoy my systems much less now that my hearing has gone way downhill. |
Appreciate of music through a high end system has little to do with the details of your actually hearing specs unless they are severely compromised. Yours are not. Ignore it. My hearing has always been compromised compared to my partner… most of us are… females have better hearing. I have taken her to most major auditions of equipment over the decades… she always had an opinion… “that sounds better… that hurts my ears.” But she always differs to my deep knowledge of the details and differences. The only thing you need is a balance control. Forget about the measurements, work towards a system that makes you happy. |
I too recommend the costco hearning aids but stick with the "high end basic". By that I mean a hearing aid that does a really high quality job of simply flattening your response curve out. That is what I have now. Mine are 3 years old. I love them. Music sounds much better--natural with the gaps filled in... So I went to costco to get the "latest and greatest" as a upgrade. I bought the Rexton that has a music mode. Hated it. It has all kind of AI that decides what I want to hear instead of just sending me everything with the gaps amplified. even in music mode is is doing a lot of digital signal processing. I've yet to figure out what model I'll try next. Jerry |
Do you still enjoy what you hear when listening to live music? There is no way for you to "adjust" the sound of a live performance to compensate for your hearing loss. In fact, the brain does a better job than most people would think possible in compensating for hearlng loss as we age. At just shy of 70 and with my own hearing deficiencies, I still enjoy music as much as I ever have. That said, the best way for a consumer to pick out a component is to listen, preferably in your home setting, and then select the unit within your budget that sounds best -- to you. You may -- or may not -- find that EQ or tone controls enhance your experience. Me? I'm perfectly fine without them. YMMV. |
@stereo5 Agree 100% with you. I have a Luxman with loudness, balance and tone controls (all defeatable). I have a smaller loss in my right ear, and it helps. A friend has a McIntosh and he is quite happy also. |
Get an EQ and boost the 25-30% rt ear side over 4k. This should make a larger improvement in what you hear over any equipment upgrade. https://www.schiit.com/products/loki-max you can turn off the EQ if you have guests. |