I’ve read quite a lot on head-fi.org about both the Utopia and Tinnitus. I wasn’t sure where to post my question, so I decided to start a new thread. I hope that was an appropriate decision. Sorry it is so long.
I’ve had tinnitus since my teens. I was one of those guys with his head in the speaker at clubs. I’ve always known I was paying for that when I had constant tinnitus over the years. An ENT and audiology assessment showed no hearing loss at all. In fact, I’ve got better than average hearing. But the tinnitus is always there. A little hyperacusis, but otherwise no issues, no bother.
My mother has tinnitus, and my father has significant hearing loss.
I’ve enjoyed listening to music using not-so-good headphones since my club days. Having matured and accepted the dangers, I have been very aware of keeping the volume low. When I turned 50, I decided to splurge and get a set of real headphones, before my genetic predisposition takes hold.
I got the Audioquest Nighthawks for the comfort and excellent sound. The semi-open-back format was a first for me, and was a great change. I also got a Chord Mojo. After listening on low volume for 2 months, I noticed my tinnitus getting worse. A LOT worse. I stopped using them, and it didn’t get better.
Since then, I’ve had more audiology, ENT, and family doctor appointments. No hearing loss still. MRI and CT showed nothing. 4 different medications did nothing. Nasal flushing and sprays - nothing.
After 2 years of investigating and trial therapy, no change. Just acceptance.
Now, I’ve noticed that listening with the Nighthawks do make it worse, even at low volumes. Stress makes it worse. Teeth clenching (I have that big time) makes it’s own tinnitus sound. Relaxing and meditation makes it better.
So, I love the Nighthawks but they hurt me (maybe). Things are going well otherwise. My very supportive wife suggested I get the best headphones I can find and hopefully that will help. After searching for, reading about (thanks, head-fi!) , and listening to many high end headphones, I settled on the Focal Utopias. I pulled the plug and dropped $5k Canadian (incl tax). Comfortable and sound great! I love them!
My new pair, however sound different from the store version. I am told than it takes a while for the burn in to settle. The midrange seems thin, and the high end a bit abrasive. I hate to say my Nighthawks sound better although the open Utopias feel better for my ears. I can’t wait for the burn in...
Now, after reading about tinnitus (again, thanks head-fi) quite a bit, I have decided to try notch therapy. The Tinnituspro app has not been upgraded, so it no longer is available. The others don’t seem right to me. So I’m trying my own notch therapy.
I’ve hooked up a Behringer DEQ2496 to an iMac. Optical digital in, optical out to the Mojo. I’ve used the GEQ to notch, and the PEQ to deepen the notch. I can only seem to get a 15db drop. I cannot get a real notch. Still way better than what I’ve see on the iPhone apps. I also boost above and below the notch by 10db, as described in a paper I found about the therapy (they boost 20db). Pink noise from the DEQ2496 works, but I’ll be using music. My tinnitus seems to be 3 frequencies at 9500hz, 10300hz, and 11300hz. So I’m notching 8000 to 1200hz.
Of course, my tinnitus is worse now, with all the testing and listening to many headphones and test tones.
Wow, that’s a lot of info. Sorry. Here are the questions:
1 Do you think the Nighthawks can cause tinnitus at low levels?
2 Would the Utopias have the same problem?
3 Would the notch therapy negatively impact the Utopia burn in?
4 How long should the Utopias take to burn in?
5 Is there a better way to get the notch in the music?
6 Would the Behringer, using optical in and out, corrupt the sound when in bypass mode (for regular listening)?
Thanks for reading. And even more thanks if you answer.
I’ve had tinnitus since my teens. I was one of those guys with his head in the speaker at clubs. I’ve always known I was paying for that when I had constant tinnitus over the years. An ENT and audiology assessment showed no hearing loss at all. In fact, I’ve got better than average hearing. But the tinnitus is always there. A little hyperacusis, but otherwise no issues, no bother.
My mother has tinnitus, and my father has significant hearing loss.
I’ve enjoyed listening to music using not-so-good headphones since my club days. Having matured and accepted the dangers, I have been very aware of keeping the volume low. When I turned 50, I decided to splurge and get a set of real headphones, before my genetic predisposition takes hold.
I got the Audioquest Nighthawks for the comfort and excellent sound. The semi-open-back format was a first for me, and was a great change. I also got a Chord Mojo. After listening on low volume for 2 months, I noticed my tinnitus getting worse. A LOT worse. I stopped using them, and it didn’t get better.
Since then, I’ve had more audiology, ENT, and family doctor appointments. No hearing loss still. MRI and CT showed nothing. 4 different medications did nothing. Nasal flushing and sprays - nothing.
After 2 years of investigating and trial therapy, no change. Just acceptance.
Now, I’ve noticed that listening with the Nighthawks do make it worse, even at low volumes. Stress makes it worse. Teeth clenching (I have that big time) makes it’s own tinnitus sound. Relaxing and meditation makes it better.
So, I love the Nighthawks but they hurt me (maybe). Things are going well otherwise. My very supportive wife suggested I get the best headphones I can find and hopefully that will help. After searching for, reading about (thanks, head-fi!) , and listening to many high end headphones, I settled on the Focal Utopias. I pulled the plug and dropped $5k Canadian (incl tax). Comfortable and sound great! I love them!
My new pair, however sound different from the store version. I am told than it takes a while for the burn in to settle. The midrange seems thin, and the high end a bit abrasive. I hate to say my Nighthawks sound better although the open Utopias feel better for my ears. I can’t wait for the burn in...
Now, after reading about tinnitus (again, thanks head-fi) quite a bit, I have decided to try notch therapy. The Tinnituspro app has not been upgraded, so it no longer is available. The others don’t seem right to me. So I’m trying my own notch therapy.
I’ve hooked up a Behringer DEQ2496 to an iMac. Optical digital in, optical out to the Mojo. I’ve used the GEQ to notch, and the PEQ to deepen the notch. I can only seem to get a 15db drop. I cannot get a real notch. Still way better than what I’ve see on the iPhone apps. I also boost above and below the notch by 10db, as described in a paper I found about the therapy (they boost 20db). Pink noise from the DEQ2496 works, but I’ll be using music. My tinnitus seems to be 3 frequencies at 9500hz, 10300hz, and 11300hz. So I’m notching 8000 to 1200hz.
Of course, my tinnitus is worse now, with all the testing and listening to many headphones and test tones.
Wow, that’s a lot of info. Sorry. Here are the questions:
1 Do you think the Nighthawks can cause tinnitus at low levels?
2 Would the Utopias have the same problem?
3 Would the notch therapy negatively impact the Utopia burn in?
4 How long should the Utopias take to burn in?
5 Is there a better way to get the notch in the music?
6 Would the Behringer, using optical in and out, corrupt the sound when in bypass mode (for regular listening)?
Thanks for reading. And even more thanks if you answer.
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