sound pain... very slight with Etys but magnified with CD3000s

[utdeep]

I'm having a few issues...
I'm listening to Enrique Iglesias - Love to see you cry (don't laugh), and there is an emphasis on a sss sound that seems to hurt my ears. While its not so bad with the Etys, it tears me apart on the CD3000s... I don't feel anything using the KSC35s (probably because so much detail is lost). I've noticed that there is a little sting I experience every time I hear really strong beats with the CD3000 as well thats missing from the etys although the sound is similar. I've had similar problems with the EX70s a while ago, which occurred on almost all vocals (and is probably due to the fact that they suck... for me at least).
This is bothering me a lot because it occurs regardless of volume, and on various songs. I love the CD3000s and I wrote this off as being the result of not being used to feeling impact after having etys for so long. But I've realized that this is not the case... it is definately the way CD3000s represents certain sounds and not physical feeling.
Everything else about the CD3000s is perfect, and this is definately the ONLY reason why I'm wearing my etys right now. I'm trying to come up with an opinion of the CD3000s versus the etymotics, but this when I read other people's reviews I read their opinion on brightness and darkness etc., but never the kind of physical reactions I've experienced with my headphones. Should I be worried?
If you want an example of the kind of pain I'm experiencing, its like someone scraping chalk on a blackboard with the SSS sound... and for beats its not as bad. This may sound like paranoia from a person who posted that the weakness in his equipment may be his ears, but I really need to know if this is a common phenomenon.
Or is it possible that I've gotten so sensitive to good sound, that anything else just hurts? Probably not.

[Tim D]

You can simply be listening to loud for your own good. Although this problem would have also carried over with the KSC-35's...do you use an amp for the KSC-35's?

Just remember just because you have an amp doesn't mean you ought to always amplify the sound. Also the Sony CD-3000 is something I'd imagine to get LOUD fast.

Finally...its Enrique Iglesias.

Also you have a top-o-line portable...which is definitely good and all, but still again the cosmic can clearly show its limitations as advertised! Did I mention its Enrique Iglesias?

[BenG]

It sounds like it may be the recording. Get out some well recorded vocal discs and compare.

[utdeep]

I do tend to like my music loud... actually the main reason I got headphones. I do not think its the volume though, because I typically get each of my headphones to my preferred volume level before I get into my listening sessions. It should be identical despite different headphone impedences. I should add that the beats are as loud on my etys as my CD3000s (in fact, the beats are the main indicator of my optimum volume level for all music).... the vocals are typically little lower on the CD3000s at the same beat volume level between headphones.

[Xander]

What you're experiencing is vocal sibilance. It's actually caused by a few things. For one, the more revealing the headphone, the more distortion you hear on "sss" "ch" and "sh" sounds in vocals. Second, if there is peaking in the headphones response in the 2-12khz range, they can exaderate this distortion on some recordings. The heart of this problem, however, lies in the recording studio. Excessive equaliziation, compression, or just bad miking methods, and or cheap microphones can cause excessive vocal sibilance. There are even machines for studios that reduce vocal sibilance called "de-essers", but are rarely used on most popular recordings.

As for the strong beats and stuff, you may actually be listening too loud. It could also be harshness in the headphones upper range (severe peaks and vallies).

[Tim D]

Matching sound by "beats" doesn't mean anything except that you are matching a small frequency range in volume. That does not mean the CD3000 will have equal SPL's throughout listening especially in other frequency bands.

Also it could be that the tonality of the KSC-35 is such that the beats are more prominent than the other headphones due to slight mid-bass elevation relative to other frequency bands. In any case...don't listen loud...and don't listen to Enrique...haha jk!



Seriously though...its great to love the thumping beats that headphones can deliver til you realize it can screw up your hearing in the long-run. Also you aren't a good determinator of loudness unless your ears are very well-trained. Many people have said the Cosmic has PLENTY of gain. This means that if you really are cranking up the Cosmic...it might not be that great. Check at what volumes you listen to some portables jacks with the KSC-35, and compare to what you crank them up with on the Cosmic.

[kwkarth]

Originally posted by Xander
What you're experiencing is vocal sibilance. It's actually caused by a few things. For one, the more revealing the headphone, the more distortion you hear on "sss" "ch" and "sh" sounds in vocals. Second, if there is peaking in the headphones response in the 2-12khz range, they can exaderate this distortion on some recordings. The heart of this problem, however, lies in the recording studio. Excessive equaliziation, compression, or just bad miking methods, and or cheap microphones can cause excessive vocal sibilance. There are even machines for studios that reduce vocal sibilance called "de-essers", but are rarely used on most popular recordings.

As for the strong beats and stuff, you may actually be listening too loud. It could also be harshness in the headphones upper range (severe peaks and vallies).

There is even a piece of junk called an "Aphex Aural Exciter" that some tone deaf studios and radio stations use that actually (no kidding here) add harmonic distortion to silibants to make them stand out even more. Can you believe it? Brain dead!

BTW, utdeep, it sounds to me like you need to giver your ears a rest for a few days man! Pain is pain and is your body's way of telling you to cool it!!

[Xander]

Originally posted by kwkarth

There is even a piece of junk called an "Aphex Aural Exciter" that some tone deaf studios and radio stations use that actually (no kidding here) add harmonic distortion to silibants to make them stand out even more. Can you believe it? Brain dead!

BTW, utdeep, it sounds to me like you need to giver your ears a rest for a few days man! Pain is pain and is your body's way of telling you to cool it!!

You can't be serious. That is the most appaling thing I've ever heard. Absurd.. Absolutely horrific. My God. I thought exaderated midbass was bad..

[setmenu]

Utdeep
since I developed mild tinitus in my right ear[I suspect headpnones use] I have been cautious of volume levels,
and the right ear has become a little sensitive to the frequencys
mentioned.
I know this might sound silly but try, if you can to obtain some ear
defenders,putting them on,straight after listening to music at your
normal level and listen to your ears!
You might be surprised at the sounds you hear,if you have ringing
or some sort,see how long it takes to die down if it hangs around
for a while be cautious with your levels.
I know I am probally preaching to the converted and have seen
similar threads but tinitus can be really bad and there is as yet
no cure!

Good listening

[utdeep]

You guys are awesome. I'm going to take a little break from headphone listening and then take your advice to heart.
I sold off the CD3000s so the only thing I'll have to worry about is the Etys.

[PC Corp]

If you "donate" them to me, then you'll have nothing to worry about.

I think people tend to listen to heahphones very loud at the beginning, but somehow they will turn down the volume later as they've learned what is good music. (I'm talking myself, not you Utdeep.)

[chych]

Often the problem may lay in your source and CD itself... my CD3000 and Ety do not display significant silibance through my MG Head and ART DI/O, even to some really crappy recordings. Maybe try different sources or something...

[Mumrik]

Originally posted by utdeep
I sold off the CD3000s so the only thing I'll have to worry about is the Etys.

Didn't you just buy those CD3000s a short time ago announcing that you loved them?

http://www.head-fi.com/forums/showth...&threadid=4396


You change your mind quickly, eh?

[utdeep]

I do love them... but they're soooo big! Space is pretty important to me as I'm not going to be able to take much with me when I leave for my Peace Corps assignment. Also, these things look so good, that someone may decide to "borrow" them forever (stealing doesn't exist in Tonga per se and I doubt that anyone would want to "borrow" my etys). The pain was another little problem.
The CD3000s look as good as Etys sound. The sound itself is not considerably better than the etys however... just different. I didn't change my mind, but I realized that it wasn't for me yet. One thing I love about this site is the ability to sell and buy equipment easily.... just the experience of using the CD3000s was awesome. I highly recommend you try them out!!!

[Mumrik]

It'll be a couple of years more before I can get myself to pay that kind of money for cans...