Tinnitus and its affect on listening enjoyment


Over several years reading in these forums I've learned that many of us have varying degrees of hearing problems. Age related loss of upper frequencies seems the most common which I've attempted to address using quality EQ's and hearing aids. I still use an EQ (Behringer Ultracurve 2496) but I do not like the hearing aids so have returned them. Even without the EQ, though, I can still very much enjoy my music unaided as long as I'm careful with my source selections. 

To the subject of tinnitus,  I've always viewed it as an annoyance and very little else. However, the more I think about the reason I'm finding some upper middle frequencies harsh and uncomfortable may have less to do with my equipment and more to do with dissonance between the "ringing" frequency(ies) and those associated with the music. I suspect, because my ringing is quite loud, that there must be an element, at least, of this suspected phenomenon.

If this speculation is correct, the bad thing is that, to my knowledge, there is no fix for this issue of tinnitus; on the positive side, there being no solution, I can submit to it, relax, and simply continue to be selective in my music choices. 




128x128broadstone
 There might be  a solution....I followed a fellow audiophile's thread, who had to sell a new set of speakers he otherwise loved, and repurchase his last pair. He felt that the new speakers  excited his tinnitus ultimately making them unlistenable. All is well now with his prior speakers back in place.
broadstone, up until two years ago I had tinnitus most of my life. When I stopped using caffeine, coffee, etc. I stopped having tinnitus. If you consume coffee, etc. give it some thought.

  1. I've tried several speakers over quite a few years and the problem persisted though all iterations. Also, the caffeine issue was addressed at the suggestion of my wife a year or so ago when I went w/o all  caffeinated drinks including tea and soft drinks for 3 weeks and there was no change. I even consulted with a neurologist who suggests the possibility of neuropathic involvement caused by my diabetes. Thanks for your suggestions but it looks like I'm sort of stuck with this and, like many other things in life, we find ways to adjust, I suppose. I posted this not really expecting a solution but more to initiate discussion on something that at least I think is an interesting theory. 

I have been a musician for 35 yrs , guitarist at that . There are a couple threads here about this . I have tinitus from menieres disease in my right ear . Music is not the same for me anymore, menieres destroys hearing among dizziness etc mostly low end  tintus can be very much irritated by caffeine and salt ! Under 2500 grm a day helps although its very difficult to adhere to. I have become sensitive as most rock musicians to high end . I have as of lately really fell back in home audio hobby again after being a fruitcake about it for yrs .I think because of my hearing issues i savior  it more ,set your system up for your ears and stay under 90db 
fo' sure . Yes i wear plugs when im playing guitar and if you have kids get headphones on them at concerts! We grew up less informed with the permant damage we aquire as kids . 
Good luck 
I know this is a touchy subject to some ,but cannabis helps tinitus in many, many people it helps with the obsessive focusing on the noise and certainly for sleeping.So your not sleeping on the wing seat next to the engine on a plane.Eating edibles works best,yes i'm from california, and i certainly use it . lol
I had similar thoughts on "midrange glare".  In the end the answer was wire and tube choice.  The interesting thing to me was that adjusting the midrange level on the speaker did not help.  Adjusting the tweeter level had a huge affect on the "midrange" glare (Vandersteen 3A Sig).
Boy do I agree with you regarding the use of hearing aids.   I was told the reason that they are so bad is not necessarily the amp or speaker section, but the microphone.  No one can manufacture a high quality mic ...they go from about 150 or so to 4 or 5000.  Not high fidelity by any means.  Also age related hearing loss is in the high mids...not the extremes...which make matters worse for hearing aids.