[wlb]

Guys,

I have posted 2 threads already with no response to my question
I know I am deaf but this is ridiculous

I have severe hearing loss and need some IEM with the the highest sensitivity, and no this will not affect or worsen my hearing...

..I have been recommended the JH and Earsonics which IMHO is not worth it for the partially deaf as I will never benefit of all the nuances between the highs, mids, and bass as a regular person.

Any thoughts/recommendations on specific models please...as i am starting to get impatient and really want to start enjoying my music......

Thanks to all that will reply..

 

[KramitDfrog]

In terms of the loudest available I think most of the basic ones are very sensitive already - I'd just get a quality one that suits your needs and sig preference - just select one with a high sensitivity (that's in dB/mW - usually 100+) and a low impedance (measured in ohm - a lot are under 32, which would be what you want)

Get a high quality one, basically as insurance against a low quality one distorting at high volume. Have a look through the regular reviews - a lot of reviews I've noticed try turning up their earphones to check for distortion at high volumes.

Happy hunting!

FWIW, Westone and Phonak produce products for the hearing impaired, implying that their products are more than capable of producing the volume required.

Here in Brisbane we have Phoenix hearing which deal in Westone products and specialise in hearing services, if you can find a business like that near where you are that would be ideal. They also sell kit to pipe your ipod through your hearing aid and can probably advice on high quality hearing aids that reproduce music, as well as doing custom ear moulds and selling custom Westones.

Also try bumping the existing thread, instead of starting new ones. Better etiquette and means people aren't repeating things which have already been said.

 

[lucozade]

westone3, se530, tf10, go very loud

 

[BoogieWoogie]

You could email JHaudio they can tweak the customs to some one earing test.

 

[wlb]

Guys -Thank you! And thanks KramitDfrog for the valuable feedback and good advice on the Bump as I am a newbie this is appreciated..

 

[ethan961]

When I said that they can customize your customs to your hearing, I meant they can tune them to your hearing loss too. So in theory, you would hear it like any other person.
I'm pretty sure they do that. Just ask them, they might easily be able to quell your fears. You don't have to buy from them but you might get some very valuable information about IEMs and people with hearing loss by talking to them.

 

[yliu]

The Sennheiser IE8 goes very loud too, but be careful, if you use earphones on very loud volume it can damage the drivers.

 

[koonhua90]

Well, since you having imbalanced hearing, won't it sound louder on one side than another? I'd say the best choice is to go customs, besides JH, there are a lot of companies. I believe they should be able to tune the driver so that it will sound like normal to you.

 

[Alec E]

The SE530 and the Westone 3 are the loudest I've heard. I didn't find the TF10 to be quite as loud as those.

 

[Jack Kontney]

Not to be a buzzkill, but how about a little perspective? If you just keep buying progressively higher sensitivities and turning it up louder, you're only making the problem worse. And how will it feel to not hear anything at all? I recommend spending the same money on a good audiologist or ENT to assess the situation.

Personally, I want to enjoy music throughout my lifespan. It's a quality of life issue.

OK, back to your regular programming...
[/soapbox]

 

[wlb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Kontney /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not to be a buzzkill, but how about a little perspective? If you just keep buying progressively higher sensitivities and turning it up louder, you're only making the problem worse. And how will it feel to not hear anything at all? I recommend spending the same money on a good audiologist or ENT to assess the situation. Personally, I want to enjoy music throughout my lifespan. It's a quality of life issue. OK, back to your regular programming... [/soapbox]

I apprerciate the concern, it is however a little assumptive, I did mention in my post that this will not affect or worsen my hearing, if I need to go into the detail to get advice so be it..
I have severe hearing loss due to a history of complications (medical term Cholesteatome), all my life I have been surrounded by audiologists, ENT surgeons and specialists alike. I wear Hearing aids to function normally in society so I am aware of the value one has on quality of life...The result is high volume will not further damage my hearing. So to improve by my 'quality of life' I would like to enjoy music without hearing aids with a decent volume - now do you have any recommendations on models as I kindly asked initially?

 

[mark2410]

just a suggestion, contact phonak.

id think since what they mostly do is make hearing aids they might be able to help, as might other manufacturers if you contact them. etymotic may also be good for this.

as for loud, the 530 is super sensitive and loud but if you need great volume of air movement then maybe a dynamic might be more suitable. be aware that a dynamic played loudly will piss off everyone around you far more than a nice isolating IEM would. something like the ER4 would allow you to blast music away and not be driving everyone near you nuts.

i would say ignore the loudness issue, find what works best for you. does the larger air movement of a dynamic suit more? does a BA work fine? do you need it to be isolating (so as to not upset others near you) does it matter if its a bassy/middy/trebly sound. can you hear the diff between the £180 IE8 or the £10 CX300? you get the idea?

then when you have a better idea about what works you can always find a DAP what can drive them loud enough or get an amp. even something like a little FiiO E5 would drive anything to more than loud enough im sure

 

[wlb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark2410 /img/forum/go_quote.gif just a suggestion, contact phonak. id think since what they mostly do is make hearing aids they might be able to help, as might other manufacturers if you contact them. etymotic may also be good for this. as for loud, the 530 is super sensitive and loud but if you need great volume of air movement then maybe a dynamic might be more suitable. be aware that a dynamic played loudly will piss off everyone around you far more than a nice isolating IEM would. something like the ER4 would allow you to blast music away and not be driving everyone near you nuts. i would say ignore the loudness issue, find what works best for you. does the larger air movement of a dynamic suit more? does a BA work fine? do you need it to be isolating (so as to not upset others near you) does it matter if its a bassy/middy/trebly sound. can you hear the diff between the £180 IE8 or the £10 CX300? you get the idea? then when you have a better idea about what works you can always find a DAP what can drive them loud enough or get an amp. even something like a little FiiO E5 would drive anything to more than loud enough im sure

Thanks Mark, I had noticed you as an active meber and appreciate the contstuctive feedback.

Earsonics have recommended the EM2 pro, they said that they cannot alter the left/right levels as they 'reproduce the source with fidelity' whatever that means I dont know, but is there a chance I will get the same reply from the other custom suppliers such as JH?
FYI My hearing ranges -70 db to -100db (between 125 and 8000 hz)
and my right -50 to --100 (between 125 and 8000 hz), I have a problem with the mid and highs.
So if it means getting low end or high end cans and using an amp or DAP(very new to all this what is the difference please between DAP and AMP please?) then fine as I still do not know what will work best for me ( annoying people around me is not an issue as I live alone) but what I would like is to hear and enjoy the quality of music at a decent level, I still need to test the IEM's as all I know is sound coming out my Igrados (fun but not loud enough) and Koss porta pro which I enjoy but are at a max when using my Iphone/ipod.
I noticed the ER4 have a lower sensitivity than the IE8 for example, did I understand correctly? And does this make them louder than the IE8?
What about buying the IE8 and bringing them to a local specialist to customize them is that possible?
Questions and more questions.. sorry..

 

[koonhua90]

Lower sensitivity means that at the same volume on the player, the one with lower sensitivity will not sound as loud as the one with higher sensitivity. Generally this is the case.

 

[IpodHappy]

WLB, a number of IEMs have sensitivities that are rated at 126db/mW. These will go very loud from almost any player.
 
A simple balance attenuator could be easily constructed to match volume levels left and right as an adapter for your portable player, but it won't match your hearing response curve. It would be good if your player had a separate left and right EQ to adjust to your particular hearing loss curve. A dedicated EQ for a sound system will definitely do this, but you'll loose any hope of portability. There are some computer based software systems like Cakewalk's Sonar which will do this on a computer. I don't know of any portable players with this capability, certainly not the iPod or iTunes, but they might exist.