when your hearing is not as good as it was . . .

We all loose high frequencies perception with aging ...

But music and even sound qualities are first qualities , meanings, non linear wholeness which are not contained in the Hertz -decibel number linear windows and map ...

My ears had lost their acuity as it is normal for 72 years but i can perceive very distinctly minute differences in sound qualities because they are meaningful for me ...

If i was wrong , audiophiles passed 35 years old must give back their club membership because passed over 35 we perceive :

I am 65  and suffer audiometric notch ,aka "noise notch".

Listening with hearing aids sucks. and I have moderate priced and expensive (widex & oticon).

One of the things that is significant is cupping my hands behind my ears. Its amazing how effective this is. Obviously this is impractical.

But I have often thought about fashioning some contraption like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Dixie-Hear-Cups-Non-Electric-Amplifier/dp/B0794FGGN8/ref=sr_1_5?crid=YA68UTS438YK&keywords=cups+for+ears+hearing+loss&qid=1702334288&sprefix=cups+for+ears+hearing+loss%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-5

Update: I just ordered the cups off the Amazons , couldn’t pass it up they were so cheap.

Mendef, join the party!  I'm 68 and have hi frequency hearing loss as well as tennitus.  I recently added a equalizer to boost the upper end.  I also play my music louder than 'normal'.  It helps.  I can not hear crickets, tree frogs, birds chirping.  But, I can tell the difference between SS and tubes, as well as digital (CD) vs HQ vinyl, so all is not lost.  Keep the faith!

I’m 64 and I can directly attribute my hearing loss to one specific concert, a great garage band by the name of Netherworld when they played at a community college campus in Los Gatos CA.   Anyway, I love music.   Don’t lose heart.   I equalize to gently elevate the higher frequencies that I don’t hear as well.   That’s the key for me.   I’m not deaf, just don’t hear the high frequencies as well.   So, boost them.

YMMV, but it works for me.

I have been tested and certain upper frequencies not quite as sharp as it once was 

a bit rolled off on tip like hearing a cymbal fade instead of 4 times 3,

and even  certain parts of the midrange,, midBass not so much , That  being said 

better audio equipment for sure helps especially the dac and cabling to give it That extra definition .