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Recommended solid state amp for user with tinnitus

Hello all,

I'm 58 and been a music lover since my teens. Through a variety of jobs in noisy work environments (metal working), target shooting, loud rock in my teens, etc., etc., I have been a sufferer of tinnitus for many years.

I am finding the 20-year old Martin-Logan Stylos speakers in my home theater are aggravating the tinnitus. I am replacing them as the front left-right mains in my home theater with the new Monitor Audio Gold 300's (gen 5 2019), along with a PS Audio DirectStream DAC. My  Marantz AV7702mkII home theater processor will be the preamp for 2-channel playback. The speakers use a MPD (Micro Pleated Diaphram) high-frequency transducer for the tweeter,  90 dB Sensitivity (1W@1m) • 4 Ohms Nominal Impedance • 3.5 Ohms @1 kHz Minimum Impedance, 250 Watts Power Handling (RMS) • 100 - 250 Watts Recommended Amplifier Requirements (RMS).

I was looking for a solid state amp in the $2000 - $5000 range that would work well with the Gold 300 speakers and keep the sound warm and non-fatiguing with good resolution. Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated. I'm wondering if McIntosh might be suited for my situation(?). Any suggestions for solid state are welcome.

In my office, I have a PrimaLuna HP tube amp, PS Audio DirectStream DAC and Monitor Audio PL100 monitors, and they tend to be much easier on my ears and tinnitus issue. I do NOT want a tube amp for my system that I am asking for recommendations on, no way to place it in my cabinetry.

Thank you in advance,
Sam
128x128samster777
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,589 posts
 
https://www.audioadvisor.com/mobile/prodinfo.asp?number=NUSTA200
This is a cool running,powerful, smooth sounding amp.I have tinnitus also and auditioned this amp for a couple of weeks.It reminded me of a Sunfire amp I used to own,it leaned very slightly to the side side of neutral.I ended up going with a tube amp instead,preferring a little more color in my system.
snapsc
665 posts
 
The Parasound Halo has a reputation for top end smoothness...I own the A23 and while it is not the be all end all for minute detail, it has a great low end and mid range...plenty of punch...really good soundstage and will NEVER sound screechy.

Here are a couple of suggestions...but a preowned A23 like the one linked below...or if you prefer black...wait a few weeks and one will undoubtedly pop up.  If you want new....then buy the new A23+ which has a little more power, a little different look...sounds virtually the same but as you might guess, costs more.

If you buy the preowned and don't like it...you can resell it for virtually no loss...if you buy the new model and don't like it...send it back...but I'm pretty sure that this will do the trick.  At the Florida Audio Expo, Martin Logan demonstrated their products with Halo and the room sounded great.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9ff0d-parasound-halo-a23-stereo-power-amplifier-a-23-18626-soli...

https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAHA23P
jimcrane
160 posts
 
I suggest that you try to listen to a Classe amp or integrated.  I use an older CAP 101 with Harbeth monitors, and I think the sound fits your description of what you want.  My model may be older and at the lower end of Classe equipment but you may find another model that you like.  And I hope the approach of addressing the issues caused by tinnitus in various ways will be fruitful.  I hope you will report back.  Good luck.
mrdecibel
2,937 posts
 
Samster777, I am very sorry for what you, and others, are going through, with these issues. Unless I am missing something, you have not mentioned the amplifier you were using to drive the MLs. Have you substituted the Monitor Audios in place of the Logans yet ? I am a retired audio consultant, and have put many systems together for listeners with hearing issues. Using test cds ( or lps ), I was able to determine what frequencies were the most offensive to them, and adding some kind of equalization to cut down on those frequencies, this was helpful. I also found, adding additional acoustic damping to the room, in specific areas, helped quite a bit as well. I believe both of these " fixes " were mentioned above. My best to you. Always, MrD.
ericsch
751 posts
 
Samster, General Hearing Instruments makes a tinnitus masker that I use when my tinnitus is bothersome. You can find the details on their website.
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