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Tinnitus sufferer: is it the speakers or the 24bits/192kHz

I have tinitus and have had it for 30+ years.  There is no cure and I know the best way to handle it is to ignore it.  But lately my tinnitus has been going off the scale.  The "lately" seems to have coincided with streaming Qobuz Hi-Res and listening on a PS Audio DirectStream DAC and pulling my Magnepan 1.6 out of storage.  Now I have been known to play too loud on "A" song- but by and large the volume is down to where I could easily speak to somone in the room.

I have thought about maybe changing to to Harbeth, Dyn, Sonus Faber or other speakers more focused on midrange.  But have also wondered if it is the high quality of sound that I am listening to that is perhaps stimulating my very high pitch ringing?

So, any fellow tinnitus folks out there with an opinion on this? 
mocktender
speakermaster
738 posts
 
Tinnitus is aggravated by volume levels and unclean sound sources and speakers. You need to play at a low to moderate volume with a very clean system and with clean sounding components for more short duration to avoid aggravating your condition further. I would suggest try a speaker with a more focused sound launch that is not too big as to pressurize the room too much it may allow to keep from offending your delicate ears.
lexx21
75 posts
 
The problem is that you aren't getting an influx of frequencies that your hearing is actually missing. For me it is squarely in the 2khz range. Pretty much a 2khz hole in my hearing. I think it will be more to what fills that hole in your hearing that your brain won't try to fill in the missing frequencies. For me, it's my setup which is totally analog. Your hearing deficiencies probably will differ with mine.
As far as speakers goes, see the response chart and see where the cutoff frequencies are. If they cut off near your hearing "hole" avoid them like the plague.
Just a little advice from a fellow sufferer.
biscorbit
143 posts
 
I own the Harbeth 7s and I believe their clarity actually relieved my tinnitus. I suggest that you listen to music at extreme low levels and choose music that has a large dynamic range. It took a while but it seems to have helped me a lot.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,338 posts
 
I have tinnitus....also mid-range loss.

Go see an audiologist.  Quit denying the obvious, and save what you've left.  There's some really nice aids out there; I have a pair that restored what I thought I could hear and didn't.

Adjusting your diet for your personal physiology isn't a bad suggestion.  I have low blood pressure naturally, so salt isn't an issue for me.  You might check that out, it's simple to do that...

CBD may help, again simple to try.  Dietary issues can stare us in the face, but old bad habits are hard to break.

Changing ones' equipment doesn't necessarily make sense.  Even 'better' and/or 'different' won't change the recipient....;)
diamonddupree's avatar
diamonddupree
75 posts
 
While it's not a bad idea to see an audiologist, there's a good chance they'll simply confirm your condition and say learn to live with it. I've been to two and it only served to pinpoint the frequency of the hearing damage. And it was kind of cool to sit in an anechoic chamber. Outside of that, seeing an audiologist did absolutely nothing for me. 
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