Hyperacusis. Looking for recommendations

tiggerfc

I can emphathize with your plight.

For decades I've suffered from occasional debilitating bouts of hyperacusis.

That last time was only about 3 years ago when low flying jets at an air show straffed low over head (I wasn't attending the show, just found myself unluckily in their flight path).   The damage was so bad sound was distorted, painful, whisper quiet sounds hurt, my family's voices hurt, even my voice or chewing food hurt.

And at the same time I had to continue working in pro sound!  (I do sound for film/TV). 

I finally was forced in to doing what I'd put off: getting treatment. I did a form of TRT therapy specifically modelled for hyperacusis.  This involved wearing small hearing aid type devices that send soft specifically tailored noise all day in to the ears, to get the brain used to sound again, and to "re-wire" so it doesn't see it as threatening.  

Usually it takes about 18 months for full recovery.  Took me longer and while recovery wasn't full - as in being totally rid of hyperacusis - my ears are more robust than they've been in a long time.  Now my wife is always telling me to turn the sound down when I listen to music!  A good thing!

Have you had your hyperacusis treated?  Does it ever get better?

As for equipment recommendations I can't really help.  I tend to go strictly on what sound I like and plenty of different speakers have been great for me - everything from electrostatics, to omnis, to even dreaded "bright" speakers like Thiel!

One magic bullet, I find, has been my tube amplification.  It seems to simultaneously fill out the sound while still alowing for a vivid presentation.

In fact, I actually have my CJ tube pre-amp run through my other Benchmark LA4 pre-amp, so i can switch between solid state preamp or tubes in the path.  It comes in handy.  A few nights ago I was listening to a record that had a muted trumpet, which anyone with sensitive ears knows can be a killer in recordings.  They can be so sharp and bright.  This was was really thin and bright and it happened to be bothering my ears right at a sensitive frequency.  I just switched over to my tube preamp, which thickened and relaxed the sound, and then it was more comfortable to listen to.

The challenge is to find a loudspeaker that has an accurate (even) tonality and full range frequency response, one but that also has relatively high efficiency and does not require lots of volume to come alive.  I've found that some Wilson Audio loudspeakers perform well in this regard.

As the first reply poster and SoundLab Majestic 845 owner, I obviously 2nd. everyone's full range electrostatic recommendations. 

I too hope that you find either a medical or hearing aid solution, before requiring the speaker &/or amplifier solutions you requested.  At any rate, I hope you find a suitable resolution.  If you do, following-up with same here, would be helpful for any others seeking a similar solution to such a complex issue and condition.   

BTW above, I should have mentioned that @audiokinesis post is one of the best here, as they also are in his other Audiogon postings.  As he mentioned, Duke is a SoundLab dealer and also I may add, a great speaker manufacturer in his own right.  Over the decades, I have found Duke's forum advice to be very informed and spot-on and as objective as those of us with no vested interests as a manufacturer or dealer.  And no, I have no personal association with Duke or the industry in general.  I only know and respect Duke's advice from his posts here and elsewhere.     

Thanks to everyone for replying back with some excellent ideas. Sorry I couldn’t chime in sooner. Work. You know...

JD! Yes! I ordered the Stella. I saw all the tubes, did a double-take, counted 16, initially, bought it, recounted to 20 and was like..OMG. That was the fastest audio purchase decision of my entire life. All of one minute from finding the ad to purchasing. Lol. It is what it is. I’m stoked to finally get it (maybe next week?).

As for the other speaker recommendations, I have taken notes and will start down-selecting. I am certainly looking for full range. I’ve demo’d Spatial Audio’s M3 Sapphires before. That was different. Smooth. Warm. Nice detail. Not "hot." But moving away from the sweet spot was detrimental. The AAD 2001 speakers I currently have playing in the background sound excellent even way across the house. That’s nice because if my ears are on fire but I still want to listen, I just turn it up and chill in another room. Not the greatest experience but it does the trick.

I have a bit of audio gear now and the PS Audio Stellar 1200 mono blocks seem to be able to play very quiet and capable of the slightest nuance (much better than my ears would hear!), but the ARC SP-20 won’t let them go as quiet as the Creek, but sounds 100x better. Also has a ton more body, where the Creek was smoother and silkier. Easier to listen to the Creek but again, the sound quality isn’t quite there. That’s why I also ordered the Stella because an integrated, in my experience, has more latitude in volume control. I miss my last integrated quite a bit. Had that one for just over 10 years which I modded, rewired and all. Sounded phenomenal for a crappy Chinese hybrid integrated. But, it did the job! I’d love to build another if I can find another Bada laying around somewhere. I digress...

As for SET amps and high-efficiency speakers, that may be the ticket for "those days." Besides, who the hell doesn’t love a cool little 1W tube amp?!

Anyhow....

Thanks again everyone for the support and recommendations. And to those of you suffering from one form of hearing loss or another, I feel for you as well. It’s a crime to lose something so important, especially when we love good audio and appreciate that gift the way we do.

Lastly, if you haven’t heard, check out www.soundpharma.com. They are in Stage 3 clinical trials for a drug to treat tinnitus, vertigo and other inner ear dysfunction. I’m watching closely. Pray they make it through! It would be the first drug of its kind to enter the market to treat such things. Pretty incredible if it happens. Anyway, thought I’d share some good news. But don’t smoke that cigar yet. The fat lady hasn’t sung yet. Don’t jinx it!

John