[heymikey]

lol i only thought about it for 10 minutes and my first thought was to just do it and she wont notice, then it was to lie, then to ask permission (to spend my own money?). yes i asked! and she, my girlfriend was very supportive. I tell her that i want the very best sound possible for her. she smiles and get taken out to dinner.

i would of done it any ways and dealt with it later. 

She's a keeper! Beautiful speakers, enjoy them in good health.

[pstrisik]

Nice score Guf
sounds like your girlfriend deserves dinner and a trip to the spa

Pete

if you don't mind my asking
what element of your hearing is most affected and the salks were not able to resolve?
do you need a brighter top end? horn driver? more efficiency?

a real shame

I sometimes wonder which sense I would give up first sight or sound
okay it never quite gets that far

audiotom....  less bright top end.  I have top quality hearing aids that help in hearing the detail (I turn them down a few clicks relative to regular use).  It is sensitivity (hyperacusis), mostly in upper midrange, but somewhat throughout the ~1000Hz + range.  I'm not sure what will be able to do it, if anything.  Actually, lower volume works, but then I don't enjoy quite as much.  I'll get fatigue after 15 minutes of listening at 75-80db. 

The monitors that are coming have silk dome tweets and pulp mid woofs - we'll see.

........Peter

[Gzerro]

audiotom....  less bright top end.  I have top quality hearing aids that help in hearing the detail (I turn them down a few clicks relative to regular use).  It is sensitivity (hyperacusis), mostly in upper midrange, but somewhat throughout the ~1000Hz + range.  I'm not sure what will be able to do it, if anything.  Actually, lower volume works, but then I don't enjoy quite as much.  I'll get fatigue after 15 minutes of listening at 75-80db. 

The monitors that are coming have silk dome tweets and pulp mid woofs - we'll see.

........Peter

Peter,

You may want to consider getting a pro audio multi-band parametric equalizer. They can be purchased online at sites that sell recording studio gear (musician's friend, guitar center etc.) This will allow you to tailor any speaker to boost or cut frequencies you find problematic with your hearing aids. It will also allow you to identify specifically which frequencies are causing your issues and how much of an adjustment is needed for you to be happy with the result. They range in price from a few hundred dollars and up (and up and up), but a lower cost unit should be fine.

Based on what you are describing, it may be that the differences between various speaker materials etc. don't result in a large enough difference for you to find a comfortable match.

Regardless, I hope you stay in touch here at the forum as you find the right match.

Best of luck,

Tom

[JRace]

Hi Peter, beautiful speakers!

Sorry to hear about your issues. I am a Hearing Instrument Specialist and am interested in hifi + Hearing aid issues. I would like to know more about your situation (you can PM m if you would like).

I always give my audiophile and musician clients a "music" program in which I have disabled as much compression and automatic features.

[pstrisik]

Hi Peter, beautiful speakers!

Sorry to hear about your issues. I am a Hearing Instrument Specialist and am interested in hifi + Hearing aid issues. I would like to know more about your situation (you can PM m if you would like).

I always give my audiophile and musician clients a "music" program in which I have disabled as much compression and automatic features.

Thanks JRace.  I've got a good hearing guy.  He's worked for the manufacturers in the past and knows his stuff.  We've done mucho work with programs including removing as much processing as possible, ie, to get as close to mimicing analog as possible, but without success.  We've fooled with the new Bernaphone Chronos, which is supposed to have the fastest processor yet and is particularly designed (or at least marketed) for music, as well. 

It's really not the aids as much as it is my hyperacusis.

........Peter

[JRace]

Hyperacusis is no fun 
There is hope though, studies have shown success with TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy)
http://www.tinnitus.org/home/frame/THC1.htm

Dont give up!

[jimdgoulding]

Beautiful finish, Jim.

[jd3]

Peter,
I'm sorry to see that you decided to part with them but I know you've struggled to make them work for you.  It's great that you were able to sell them so quickly though! 

John

[guf]

Nice score Guf
sounds like your girlfriend deserves dinner and a trip to the spa

had dinner last night and i'm paying for her massage today at 1pm. great suggestions. 

[Frans]

audiotom....  less bright top end.  I have top quality hearing aids that help in hearing the detail (I turn them down a few clicks relative to regular use).  It is sensitivity (hyperacusis), mostly in upper midrange, but somewhat throughout the ~1000Hz + range.  I'm not sure what will be able to do it, if anything.  Actually, lower volume works, but then I don't enjoy quite as much.  I'll get fatigue after 15 minutes of listening at 75-80db. 

The monitors that are coming have silk dome tweets and pulp mid woofs - we'll see.

........Peter

Don't bother with an equalizer, the issue is not frequency related it's about intensity. The music over-saturates your inner ear at certain frequencies because of the damage. Tuning either the hearing aids or speakers or both may compromise the sound quality as a trade-off for comfort. Sound going into a damaged ear is the problem.

The issue is the processing of the sound at the inner-ear level. It's not the hearing aid. It's the actual inner ear/auditory brain processing system itself. Many digital hearing aids have a music mode, but that might not solve the issue. It minimizes the compression and turns off the noise filters/processing.

New speakers might improve something in your own mind (placebo effect), but in the long run it  might not do what you think it will do.

Bernafon Chronos are cheap Oticons (probably found at Costco) and are "feature-limited". Music guys tend to prefer Resound due to a fuller music quality FWIW.

There is a new therapy available to minimize hyperacusis so start there, and don't put so much weight on the technology. This is new and different from Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), but follows a similar path. See your Audiologist about this.

This should be an entire "Audiophile hearing-loss" thread on its own due to how important this issue is for audiophiles. Unfortunately the top experts in the audiology field don't frequent audiophile sites because they are more interested in addressing the problem versus making a hearing-aid sale. This goes far beyond the hardware (speakers or hearing aids), it's about the dysfunction of the auditory system, and goes beyond the expertise of hearing aid dispensers, or even most unspecialized audiologists.

[pstrisik]

Thanks Frans.  I will look into what is current for hyperacusis.  I'm surprised there isn't more knowledge about this in audiophile circles as many serious audiophiles are 50+ and had over exposure to music levels in the 60's-70's (probably nothing compared to what the current twenty somethings will have to deal with in 30 years - but we may have stem cell regeneration of the hair cells by then!).

I currently have Resound Fortis (costco), but haven't bothered with a music program this time.  As you note, it is not the hearing aids.  I will get fatigue even without them.

.......Peter

[Frans]

Hello Peter,

Realize that Costco hearing aids are much lower technology hearing aids, they are not anywhere near the high end technology, despite how they are marketed by Costco. There is a reason they are cheaper, it's because Costco requests lower end specs from the manufacturers to cut costs.

There is a lot more research than most are aware of around hyperacusis, however there are several causes beyond noise that complicate treatment.

There is no magic pill, even with stem cell research (focused more on Parkinson's rather than stem cell regeneration). Even if this were viable it would still require therapy to teach the new cells how code sound (recognize the stimulus).

There is a huge chasm between audiophiles and practitioners of auditory function, and the message of how to manage auditory dysfunctions is rarely well received by audiophiles who tend to expect technology to fix everything. I'm not sure how this will get "fixed" to be honest.

[JerryLove]

There is a huge chasm between audiophiles and practitioners of auditory function, and the message of how to manage auditory dysfunctions is rarely well received by audiophiles who tend to expect technology to fix everything.

Stereotyping is bad.

[pstrisik]

Realize that Costco hearing aids are much lower technology hearing aids, they are not anywhere near the high end technology, despite how they are marketed by Costco. There is a reason they are cheaper, it's because Costco requests lower end specs from the manufacturers to cut costs.

How do you know this?  My understanding is that the costco versions omit some features, but do not use lower quality components.

........Peter

[Frans]

How do you know this?  My understanding is that the costco versions omit some features, but do not use lower quality components.

........Peter

Fewer features, less capable processing, etc. Kinda like buying a PC with a lower end processor and stripped of features. Not lesser build quality, but less capable components. Cheapness comes at a cost. Ask the hearing aid company itself for an honest answer (that's my source).

[Frans]

P.s. I am at a Costco right now and I would say that the level of audiophile gear here is about on par with the level of their audiology equipment. My only concern is that I have heard too many cases of Costco hearing aid technicians misrepresent their gear as being high-end, when in it's midrange at best.

Hope this better helps clarify my earlier statement. Of course now I will have insulted those audiophiles who bought their speakers at Costco... Oddly enough this is me actually trying to be politically correct! Fail...

[srb]

Of course now I will have insulted those audiophiles who bought their speakers at Costco...

Yes you have.  My $40 Costco Advent Marbl II outdoor patio speakers play more like $50 speakers.
 
Steve

[Frans]

Stereotyping is bad.

Only if it isn't true! 

The rift is understandable because of a complete misalignment in terminology, attribution, and theory. Is it so far flung that -WE-audiophiles are particular about how stuff sounds? Might we just have unrealistic expectations given the nature of neurological damage and the role the brain plays? Audiophiles demanding perfection of sound? Say it ain't so! 

[Frans]

Yes you have.  My $40 Costco Advent Marbl II outdoor patio speakers play more like $50 speakers.
 
Steve

 

[JerryLove]

Only if it isn't true! 

If they were universally true, they would be characteristics, not stereotypes.

All audiophiles on Earth breathe oxygen. See?

As to your hearing aid claim: Hearing aids which cost less and advertise less features (the ones at Cosco) have less features than the more expensive ones from the same company that advertise more features?

Yea. I kinda expected that.