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Speakers for high-frequency hearing loss

crouse

crouse

Poorly known member
A discussion about high-frequency hearing loss in the general audio forum got me to thinking. According to an on-line test, I have moderate hearing loss @ 8khz, so I'm thinking speakers with wonderful midrange and bass performance would increase my enjoyment of listening far more than speakers with wonderful treble performance. So, in your experience, any speakers that seem to love the midrange and bass and screw the highs?
 
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That's not how it works for me and my 4k roll off. I can't use it all but a clean extension to at least 10-12k is vital for full detailing perception and intelligibility.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
 
You might be better served by adding an equalizer and boosting the range(s) where your hearing is deficient.
 
I use these on top of my speakers, on the B channel so I can switch them on and off at will. REALISTIC SUPERTWEETERS.

To someone with normal high end hearing, the would probably sound so bright you could cut glass. But I do remember back in the late 70's having a pair and still liked them on speakers like Optimus 10 because they were only good up to about 18k on their own. Now they just sound good to me, depending on which speaker set I use them on. They are self standing and you place them on top of your speakers. I consider them a Quick Fix. ;)

stweet.jpg
 
I too have roll off at 4 khz. But if I boost top end I get tinitus. So I'm a happy idiot listening to top end flat and still like a little boost in the bass.

Bugs the heck out me that I can't hear the crickets at beginning of Sun King on Abbey Road :sigh:
 
crouse said:
A discussion about high-frequency hearing loss in the general audio forum got me to thinking. According to an on-line test, I have moderate hearing loss @ 8khz, so I'm thinking speakers with wonderful midrange and bass performance would increase my enjoyment of listening far more than speakers with wonderful treble performance. So, in your experience, any speakers that seem to love the midrange and bass and screw the highs?
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Love my Wharfedale 60E's and Celestion 66's. :banana: The Smaller Advents do well, also.
My hearing loss is about like yours. I do have hearing aids (phonak) that have a music listening program as well as 3 others, but I can enjoy my speakers without them. Hopefully, I'll come across a decently priced tube amp to see how that works for me.
 
BillyBatts said:
I use these on top of my speakers, on the B channel so I can switch them on and off at will. REALISTIC SUPERTWEETERS.

To someone with normal high end hearing, the would probably sound so bright you could cut glass. But I do remember back in the late 70's having a pair and still liked them on speakers like Optimus 10 because they were only good up to about 18k on their own. Now they just sound good to me, depending on which speaker set I use them on. They are self standing and you place them on top of your speakers. I consider them a Quick Fix. ;)

stweet.jpg
Click to expand...

This.

Have used this method for most of my adult life.
 
Harvey/ Ga said:
Love my Wharfedale 60E's and Celestion 66's. :banana: The Smaller Advents do well, also.
My hearing loss is about like yours. I do have hearing aids (phonak) that have a music listening program as well as 3 others, but I can enjoy my speakers without them. Hopefully, I'll come across a decently priced tube amp to see how that works for me.
Click to expand...

ReSound Alera 61s here, I did a couple Advent 2 as econowaveguide mods in my experimental system and am frequently surprized how good and satisfying they are.
What are you using for an amp now, what sort of tube amp you seeking?
 
shacky said:
I too have roll off at 4 khz. But if I boost top end I get tinitus. So I'm a happy idiot listening to top end flat and still like a little boost in the bass.

Bugs the heck out me that I can't hear the crickets at beginning of Sun King on Abbey Road :sigh:
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Crickets? What crickets?
 
Now if you want some speakers to give you high-end hearing loss, try something with a metal dome tweeter like these Platinum Quattros.



JK...

I suffer from tinnitus and have a lovely ~6500hz ring. Any speaker without good, smooth highs makes the tinnitus really aggravating after fairly short listening times. But I can listen to my Newforms for hours without getting any fatigue.
 
I have high freq. loss and use the Alera 61 hearing aids and set in the Music mode they help a great deal. In my DIY garage speaker build I used FAST ideas (Full range And Subwoofer Technology). You get adequate highs and the mids and lows are quite good; just about right for my ears.
As MHARDY posted above--I'm CERTAIN my ears would LOVE listening to Altec 604E duplex's :D
 
Harvey/ Ga said:
Love my Wharfedale 60E's and Celestion 66's. :banana: The Smaller Advents do well, also.
My hearing loss is about like yours. I do have hearing aids (phonak) that have a music listening program as well as 3 others, but I can enjoy my speakers without them. Hopefully, I'll come across a decently priced tube amp to see how that works for me.
Click to expand...

Do you find listening with the hearing aids to be natural sounding?
 
The Altec Boleros have rolled off highs but super mids and bass. I'm sure a lot of vintage Altecs have the same properties. Might be worth looking into.
 
shacky said:
I too have roll off at 4 khz. But if I boost top end I get tinitus. So I'm a happy idiot listening to top end flat and still like a little boost in the bass.

Bugs the heck out me that I can't hear the crickets at beginning of Sun King on Abbey Road :sigh:
Click to expand...
ROFLOL. I can still hear them too. I'm still good up to around 15k or so. I'll be 55 next month so probably about normal. My worst nightmare is my right ear doesn't always "drain" adequately. Creates a really distracting "scratchy" sound, and at a very specific frequency range, like upper mids. Really a bad place. Tinnitus of course is a 24x7 issue, but less distracting as I've gotten older AND there are sufficient "canceling" noises around. Fortunately they've made some headway recently in solutions (not cures) for tinnitus using a canceling signal matched to the tone each person has an issue with, so tailored to different people.

I agree with HTHMAN, using an EQ as a starting point. For speakers I offer Mach One, HPM-100/60, some of the early Kabuki (many known for mid punch), etc. I think when you get into the smaller bookshelf you start hitting on speakers with really good vocals and general midrange performance. I love my Vienna Acoustic Haydn speakers. Surprising bottom end, but mostly really grand mids and highs.
 
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