[loalposo]

Hi all
I am new to this forum which I find extremely useful for music lovers in search for the perfect gear.
Here is my dilemma. I have been diagnosed with a condition called tinnitus, a constant ringing in both ears in the 4000-8000 Hz range. I enjoy listening to all music genres through my MacBook Pro, mostly FLACS and ALACS, and a set of Bowers & Wilkins P5 but I am curious to know if I am missing out on any detail or sound quality due to my condition, and while I like the bass in my music to be heard and felt, i don't know if I may be missing out on mid to high detail and clarity. .
Has anyone dealt with this issue and what would you recommend far as cans go to help bring out a total acoustic experience where I can still hear good deep bass coupled with a detailed mid and high I can actually hear. I'd like to have different options at different price points. My preference would be for a closed design.
Please forgive the non technical talk but as I mentioned I am new here and on a mission to becoming a true audiophile I am just taking baby steps now.
Thanks for your input.

 

[OMGLadyGaga]

I have tinnitus in my left ear, and I'm pretty sure it's caused (for me) by forward upper mids or even neutral ones, so I have to listen at very very low volumes on stuff like the K701 or ZX700, MDR 1R, etc. So in my experience, my current favorite portable is the UE6000 as it's got the perfect balance for us tinnitus sufferers, as it has real good bass, forward lower mids, laid back upper mids(hallelujah) and a soft and recessed but still detailed treble. That's usually my go to can as it has a darkish and warm signature but still manages to be very detailed, which is actually pretty tough to find, as detailed cans tend to be treble emphasized. So I'd happily recommend the UE6000, especially at current prices. The Momentum is another good one, but the pads are way too small and they get bothersome after about an hour.

 

[Captain Howdy]

I've had moderate tinnitus for years. I think it was caused by prescription medications because it started pretty suddenly. According to my ENT doc, when you lose the ability to hear certain frequencies, the 'hole' in your auditory spectrum is replaced by that 'ringing' -- or in my case, a high-pitched whine. So yes, you are missing out on detail and sound quality due to your condition. Nothing to be done about that.
 
I don't know about you, but pronounced treble hurts my ears, so I look for cans that are not too bright. Beyerdynamic and Grado have a reputation for brightness. Sennheiser HD650 are reputedly the opposite. 

 

[loalposo]

Thanks for the info. In my case, pronounced treble does not bother me. I figured since ringing in my ear happens at the 4000-8000Hz range, a pair of cans that emphasizes the mid and high frequencies can help me get some of that detail I am currently missing. So based on your recommendation, a good pair of Beyers (maybe the DT770 Pro in 32 Ohm (I want the flexibility to be able to play them outside with my iPod and the like)) can help me get the definition I am looking for, right? What do you all think?
I have also been thinking of the Momentums over ear and I have read the issue with the small pads as well, and even if I try them on at my local store, only long term usage can tell. Are any long term Momentum users out there who still experience this or does it get better with time?
 
Thanks again for your input.

 

[OMGLadyGaga]

It doesn't get better with time

 

[Captain Howdy]

  I have also been thinking of the Momentums over ear and I have read the issue with the small pads as well, and even if I try them on at my local store, only long term usage can tell. Are any long term Momentum users out there who still experience this or does it get better with time?

 
Are you asking if the Momentum's earpads get better, or if tinnitus gets better? I don't know anything about the Momentum but I don't think tinnitus gets better. Mine hasn't.

 

[loalposo]

I've had moderate tinnitus for years. I think it was caused by prescription medications because it started pretty suddenly. According to my ENT doc, when you lose the ability to hear certain frequencies, the 'hole' in your auditory spectrum is replaced by that 'ringing' -- or in my case, a high-pitched whine. So yes, you are missing out on detail and sound quality due to your condition. Nothing to be done about that.

I don't know about you, but pronounced treble hurts my ears, so I look for cans that are not too bright. Beyerdynamic and Grado have a reputation for brightness. Sennheiser HD650 are reputedly the opposite. 

If you don't mind my asking, what are then your go to cans ( over the ear). I would like have several choices to see which ones give me the sound I am looking for

Thanks again

 

[Captain Howdy]

I haven't experienced enough cans to have a go-to yet. I've had the Grado SR80 which seemed too bright. For the past couple years the only cans I've used are the Audio Technica ATH-M50, which also seem bright. I just tried the NAD VISO HP50 which actually sounded very good and not bright, but I returned them to buy the Sennheiser HD600 instead, which are on their way as we speak. I haven't heard the HD600 but I've read a lot about them and have my fingers crossed.

 

[ceemsc]

  According to my ENT doc, when you lose the ability to hear certain frequencies, the 'hole' in your auditory spectrum is replaced by that 'ringing' -- or in my case, a high-pitched whine. So yes, you are missing out on detail and sound quality due to your condition. Nothing to be done about that.

 
I've read elsewhere that some people use an Equaliser to boost the frequencies which have suffered hearing loss to restore the detail back, but wouldn't that make the tinnitus ringing worse?
 
I've had to boost 4 KHz -> 8 KHz by + 0.5 dB otherwise the vocals sound too recessed even though it still makes my ears ring a bit...

 

[wigglepuff]

Hi, I also have tinnitus in both ears, the right ear has a constant hum when it happens and numbs my ear for a duration the left ear gives extreme pain for a short burst when it happens and occurs in different occasions depending on stress factor. In my experience they usually happen when I play too loud (volume) or when there are too sharp highs or too powerful bass reverb effects mostly from movies. Also distortion which is commonly mistaken as part of volume/sound especially the bass range can cause heavy stress to activate tinnitus (from personal experience).
 
Try to get more balanced headphones, not boomy or sharp on highs, this is also the reason why I chose the X1 and mdr 1rmk2 as my set for home and portable use since both are somewhat the same in warmish but not overly powerful in specific areas but has clear enough detail for enjoyment in low volume settings, so listening in extended sessions doesn't cause fatigue on my eardrums. Also get a clean sounding amp, direct output from pc's or laptops have so much distortion that most people got used to as part of sound. I have to put a -4 bass on the e07k when I use my shl3300 since it has too powerful bass for me even though they are not considered bass types.
 
Try to find a more neutral/flat amp for headphones also, amps also shape sound into headphones which is also a major factor.
 
Tinnitus (ear damage is permanent) it doesn't get better in time. I had it since age 12, damn walkmans from Sony and a full cassette collection of Metallica killed it for me... oh well I enjoyed them so much from those days. LOL

 

[Captain Howdy]

   
I've read elsewhere that some people use an Equaliser to boost the frequencies which have suffered hearing loss to restore the detail back, but wouldn't that make the tinnitus ringing worse?
 
I've had to boost 4 KHz -> 8 KHz by + 0.5 dB otherwise the vocals sound too recessed even though it still makes my ears ring a bit...

 
Well, if you're no longer able to hear a certain frequency, all the boosting in the world won't help. But I'm no expert on the subject, and I might have misunderstood my doctor. I know that tinnitus is not well understood, and it is not always caused by loud noise. For example, if you overdose on aspirin you can end up with tinnitus. Also, the symptoms of tinnitus vary. My tinnitus takes the form of a constant, high-pitched whine in both ears, which fortunately can be ignored most of the time. It does become annoying when listening to quieter music. It tends to temporarily worsen after a long period of listening to loud music.
 
I just got a pair of HD600 and am really enjoying them after listening to the ATH M50 for several years. I haven't done any comparison listening yet, but I haven't heard any of the sharp sibilance that I suffered from in the ATH M50, and I think the open design is probably kinder to the ears. 

 

[ceemsc]

I guess it is a balancing act of perfect sound vs. relief from tinnitus.

Boosting 8 KHz makes the sound airy but makes my ears sing so much that it starts crowding into the music

 

[Billheiser]

What little I know about tinnitus is that it's irreversible, and it's important to not make it worse by exposure to loud sounds.  So, no matter the headphones, don't turn it up.

 

[ceemsc]

I'm being referred to an ENT specialist as my ears ring at 3000 Hz & 10000 Hz.

Wonder what he/she will say when I explain my audiophile setup....ironically music is recommended to relieve tinnitus sufferers however in this case, it is the tinnitus that ruins the music.

 

[Aaron Muentz]

I've had tinnitus for many years. The only type of headphones that ever made my tinnitus worse were the two times I tried noise cancellation headphones. I'm surprised I haven't read more about this because it was a very obvious connection for me. The effect seems permanent. The first time I thought it might be a coincidence because I read they don't cause hearing damage, but 3 months ago I tried Bose Noise cancellation for just one day and the ringing in my ears has been louder ever since. Noise cancellation didn't cause my tinnitus but it made it worse.