hearing loss and speaker selection


So being 75 I've got hearing that ranges between 80hz and 9,000hz. So should I give a rat's patoot about a speaker's ability to reproduce frequencies below and above this range since I can't hear them? Obviously, I'm gonna shoot for those that handle the mids the best. Now I know the proof is in the pudding so that why we listen to speakers and pick the ones that we like best. But for the sake of discussion has there been any double-blind test or any test for that matter that supports the notion that unheard sound affects the sound you can hear through your speakers. Or should speaker manufacturers make a senior version of their speaker for us elderly folks. he says tongue in cheek.

  I understand hearing aids can restore some additional high frequencies, but I wonder if they can be tailored to replicate a tube sound over SS equipment or vis versa. Headphones aside is there some other specialized device(s) a hearing impaired person can use beyond a hearing aid that can maximize or enhance the listening pleasure? I know there are many prior posts on hearing loss but I could find none that addressed increasing the listener's frequency range or for that matter clarity. Some older posts did address clarity say go for speakers with the best clarity.

Have fun you can't take it with you.

scott22

Showing 2 responses by tomic601

Scott - I was blessed to meet Deming early in my career, let’s just say he left a mark. ;-) hope you get this working better for you. Jim

to the OP. You didn’t get completely accurate advice. Not all hearing tests are sine waves. You might consider one of the six or so helpful SIN ( speech in noise ) tests available. There are several high end audio companies that devote time, resources and money towards hearing loss prevention. My mentor runs one of them. Your Snells were a classic. Enjoy the music. BTW i ran a pretty noisy airplane factory, i know the standards, how they were established and most importantly the havoc wrought on those who didn’t take the personal protective equipment seriously- somehow i got by with a lot of live rock as a kid. my best to you !

Jim