Hearing loss and headphones

[AnilS]

Sadly, my hearing has worsened. My left ear is classed as a "dead ear" and because my right does most of the work, it is struggling. Let's not even mention tinnitus

I am waiting on another MRI scan but there is an NHS backlog.

So I use a nice graphic equaliser (Technics SH-8055) and can listen to my system. I sometimes listen (with an extension cable) with my headphones (AKG K430). I like them but they are on-ear so I thought I'd invest in AKG and bought some over-ear ones (AKG K92).

These are studio monitors, and really don't suit my ears. Even after 24 hours of "running in", I find the sound to very neutral, but nicely spacious. My son listened to them and he said the sounded much better than his wireless JBLs So after a day or two listening, I'll sell them.
Question is, I'm not sure what to get? I listened to my son's JBLs and they had nice bass but seemed not to have a nice midrange or as sweet treble as the K92. Maybe studio monitors don't suit me

The K92 are closed back so I'm looking for the same. His JBLs can be wired to my amp but are designed to be wireless which interests me so I can use them when washing my cars (Bluetooth).

Does anyone have any headphone suggestions. Prefer over-ear and minimal sound leakage.

Sadly, my budget is limited to around £100 (prefer less), and am happy to look at well cared for used ones.

 

[Amormusic]

I don't have any for sale, but my oldest has some B&W PX (PX, not PX and a number), which are Bluetooth and sound decent enough. They are also noise cancelling and stop playing when you lift one off your ear. Decent enough cans and look and feel well made too.

You can pick up a set off the bay for around or just over £100 from time to time. There are some that have sold for far more, but I think people have overpaid tbh. Might be worth sticking a watched item reminder up to see what new sets come up for.

On a much cheaper flow, and of note as they are not wireless or Bluetooth, but Audio Technica ATH MSR-7 I do really like. They sound great.

 

[AnilS]

@Amormusic thanks.

I would be nice to have the flexibility of wired/wireless.

I did have a pair of B&W P3 but didn't get on with those either!
I'll investigate the AT.

Thanks again

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

Hi Anil

STOP USING CANS IMMEDIATELY!

It is way too easy to set up an spl that is too high even though you don't think it is, and your hearing WILL get worse.

Spend your money on decent speakers instead.

 

[AnilS]

Hi Anil

STOP USING CANS IMMEDIATELY!

It is way too easy to set up an spl that is too high even though you don't think it is, and your hearing WILL get worse.

Spend your money on decent speakers instead.

Now I'm frightened!

The issue I have is when the family are watching TV, I listen to music so can't have my Monitor Audio S8s dancing. Only time is when I'm home alone

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

Now I'm frightened!

The issue I have is when the family are watching TV, I listen to music so can't have my Monitor Audio S8s dancing. Only time is when I'm home alone

I didn't want to frighten you, but hearing damage is a very real concern with headphones; it has happened to me.

Get the family to use closed-back cans instead when they are watching telly. Cheap ones will do. You can get them from Studiospares.

 

[DaveyTed]

I'm reading this topic with interest as I am a headphone user and my hearing has certainly reduced with age.
Firstly, I agree that headphone use can encourage dangerously high volumes although much that I have read suggests this is more problematic with closed back headphones.
I have two pairs of open back headphones and the "escaping" sound means I cannot listen at higher levels without disturbing other family members which, I guess, creates a safer listening level . I have found that my HiFi Man HE400se release a lot more sound into the the room than my AKG 701.
Safe Listening.

 

[timmytiger]

Be careful with the volume and you should be ok. I've always been aware of it as my mother had bad hearing and elder brother is going the same way.
One thing about noise cancelling is that you can turn the volume down when outside is reduced.

I'm on Sennheiser Momentums now, work well and sometimes use them wireless, sometimes all plugged in.

Try a few to see what you find comfortable.

 

[AnilS]

Be careful with the volume and you should be ok. I've always been aware of it as my mother had bad hearing and elder brother is going the same way.
One thing about noise cancelling is that you can turn the volume down when outside is reduced.

I'm on Sennheiser Momentums now, work well and sometimes use them wireless, sometimes all plugged in.

Try a few to see what you find comfortable.

Thanks again guys. I'm still exploring options.

I'm looking at a couple of closed back headphones with the flexibility um after that are on 30 days return basis.

I'll keep you updated. However, I will say that I'm really wanting to see if my hearing has worsened over the last year because it really feels like it.

 

[JANDL100]

If you use Bluetooth sourced from an Android phone there are some excellent equaliser apps which could help with your hearing issues.

There's one called Neutralizer that runs a hearing test to set up a personalised equalisation curve for your actual hearing ability.
Another called Poweramp which is a very effective and versatile tonal equaliser that you set up manually for each frequency band.

 

[JANDL100]

As for closed headphones in your price band, personally I'd go for Shure Srh840. A truly excellent headphone imo.
(I much prefer them to the top of the line SRH1840).
They do, like most headphones imo, benefit from some tonal equalisation. See previous post for some handy ways to do that.

 

[AnilS]

@JANDL100
That's really useful. I'll investigate.

Much appreciated

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

Here's how you could get the family to use cans for watching telly while you have your HiFi on:

https://www.studiospares.com/headph...rofessional-headphones-closed-back-262000.htm
https://www.studiospares.com/mackie-hm4-headphone-amplifier-263140.htm

 

[Pussycat]

I'm reading this topic with interest as I am a headphone user and my hearing has certainly reduced with age.

Hearing acuity does reduce with age; it's a natural phenomenon. Crappy sound on flat TVs more or less coincided with age-related loss of hearing for me, so listening to anything serious on TV is through cans (via hifi). I find that I'm enjoying music, whether via radio, records or CDP, more on cans. Having said that, I have to fire my valved and ESL kit up, which is a pain unless I'm having a good music session.

6 or so years ago I lost a lot of hearing in my right ear as a consequence of my my first flu + pneumonia jab. Surprisingly, it didn't unduly affect listening to my ESLs or cans. Marvellous compensatory thing, the brain. Nor am I aware of a diminution of s.q., despite my obviously limited and unbalanced frequency range of hearing.

I've always had open- backed cans, as these afford a more holographic soundstage over closed back ones. I really don't think there's any real need to be worried about hearing loss in using cans, providing you use the volume at comfortable levels. If this was otherwise, I think I'd be stone deaf by now (at approaching 82). I have battered HD 650s for general use but Focal Elears for much else. I'm even thinking of upping the ante to Utopiasas cans are now as, if not more, important than speakers (Quad 2905).

Many gig followers have suffered hearing prob's via loud (and distorted) live events which you cannot control. Just like speakers, you CAN control cans. By all means start with over-ear cheapos into an amp's can outlet, but you may well find that investing in quality from about the HD600/650 mark upwards and a good stand-alone can amp will afford pleasurable benefits.

 

[Minicoupeman]

I have posted the details before. Age related hearing loss ( only high frequency) led me to hearing aids which I only use for music NO ISSUES WITHOUT THEM - hearing drops off from 3k approx. They work fine with headphones. I am really impressed. Great ‘ upgrade’. See an audiologist asap

 

[Nopiano]

I have posted the details before. Age related hearing loss ( only high frequency) led me to hearing aids which I only use for music NO ISSUES WITHOUT THEM - hearing drops off from 3k approx. They work fine with headphones. I am really impressed. Great ‘ upgrade’. See an audiologist asap

Are yours NHS type, or something else? There seem to be many options available privately. Though my Hifi listening and live concerts are unaffected, I do struggle a bit with conversations these days due to HF dropping off.

 

[Minicoupeman]

Truthfully they were / are expensive. Private audiologist and recommendation from £2.5k. Not cheap.