[nikongod]

As a thought nobody has mentioned yet:
 
Have you tried to use conventional headphones with your heading aids? Many hearing aids are tuned to accentuate and attenuate certain frequencies in response to your ears. IDK if this is your case, but you may be MUCH better off with a pair of closed headphones over what your hearing aids.
 
Most IEM's will hit at least 120db in any case. Perhaps they need an amp, but even something simple can drive them very loud.

 

[MrGreen]

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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?

 
Perhaps you should consider getting a cochlear implant or artificial bones, if your hearing loss wont be affected by loud sounds (which means it is conductive hearing loss)? I'm sure you have discussed this with ENTs/Audiologists, but you really should consider it if it will help you.

They're a bit expensive, but it will change your quality of life forever.
 
Regarding the IEMs, Many of them will approach extremely loud volumes (112dB +) from just about any portable device. How loud do you need them to be?
 
I would suggest something balanced, like a ER4P or JH13 (apparently its balanced), because I find balanced or even bass light headphones sound significantly better than bassier headphones - especially when they are turned up. The bonus of these is that they isolate extremely well, if hyperacusis is a big problem for you as well. I also find that things inside the ER4P make tinnitus sound distant, rather than bringing it forward like closed headphones (my tinnitus is due to surgery), so that might help you as well. It does still make it audible to me, however (it is inaudible without isolation)
 
The good thing about the ER4P - or even better the ER4S is that its clarity allows poor diction to be far more inteligible, which would probably assist you.
 
Alternatively, you could look at something with a peak at 3k or 6k if you have trouble understanding speech at loud levels.
 
Best of luck

 

[mvw2]

Out of a standard earphone, I'd opt for the SE530.  On a cheaper scale, the Phonak PFE would be another choice.  Out of the earphones I've used, these two have always appeared to me as "limitless" or with enough dynamic range that I never reached the top end of their capability.  However I would agree that having something custom made to match your own hearing response would be lightyears better in a musical sense.  I just don't know how much they can do in terms of shaping the response as needed.

 

[mark2410]

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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..

why particularly earsonics? are you in france?
 
since you say you have a prob with mids and highs more then maybe a mid/high orentatied IEM may be better for you.  on that basis i would say order a FiiO E5 and see if that will give you the volume you need out of your igrados.  for IEM's depending how happy you are to spend get an RE-2/Beta Brainwavz for cheap or spend a little more and got the excelent RE-0.  actually you could always get the 0 and one of the cheaper 2 just to see if you can indeed benefit from the upgrade.  if you cant tell the difference you may as well stick to cheaper stuff as im sure blasting them out loud will shorten their lives.
 
btw an amp is an amplifier such as the E5, it will just take what your DAP (digital audio player) produces and make it louder.  IEM's or probably your igrados being designed to be played by most DAP's when driven by the E5 should get very very loud.  i think for you amps will be key to giving you the volume you want or atleast to have the option.

 

[aspenx]

I'm partially deaf too. I can see where you're coming from. I hope you are able to find ones that work well for you.
 
As for me, I'm fortunate enough that my left ear allows me to hear sufficiently enough. I find it kinda of a waste that I have to buy stereo phones though...

 

[techenvy]

Without question the loudest iem i have ever heard is the Denon C710,   i virtually had two turn volume way down when a/b comparing to a multitude of other iem's,,,these are so much louder or have more gain or something.   need lots of burn  and are very sibilent until afterburn, and still can be sibilent, but they are the one cheap pair i have kept and they are a steal at 75 bucks imo. although you may want to check out s4i, but ill bet they dont have a 13mm driver

 

[wlb]

Thanks guys - I have just bought some AKG K340 to test as they claim 122 sensitivity - This is OK at max volume  but not good enough in quality- Jerry Harvey mentioned to me that they will launching a new  technology at CanJam ...that should be interesting but have to wait a few weeks 

 

[stereophile]

FITTING THAT THIS "LOUDEST" THREAD IS IN ALL CAPS.
 
YOU ALSO MIGHT CONSIDER THE SOURCE FACTOR.  COWON D2 AND OTHER COWONS ARE KNOW AS SOME ONE OF THE MORE POWERFUL PORTABLE NON-AMPED PLAYERS.

 

[wlb]

Yes in France..
 
Mark2410 -I am going to hold you personnally responsible for me spending thousands on a something I never knew about 2 weeks ago...So an amp, one pair of RE-0 and either the RE-2 or Beta Brainwavz...whichever one is the cheapest - Thanks

......I am going on line to hunt for these now - Jerry can wait...
 
Then I can bring them to the audiologist to make custom moulds no?
 
 
Quote:

why particularly earsonics? are you in france?
 
since you say you have a prob with mids and highs more then maybe a mid/high orentatied IEM may be better for you.  on that basis i would say order a FiiO E5 and see if that will give you the volume you need out of your igrados.  for IEM's depending how happy you are to spend get an RE-2/Beta Brainwavz for cheap or spend a little more and got the excelent RE-0.  actually you could always get the 0 and one of the cheaper 2 just to see if you can indeed benefit from the upgrade.  if you cant tell the difference you may as well stick to cheaper stuff as im sure blasting them out loud will shorten their lives.
 
btw an amp is an amplifier such as the E5, it will just take what your DAP (digital audio player) produces and make it louder.  IEM's or probably your igrados being designed to be played by most DAP's when driven by the E5 should get very very loud.  i think for you amps will be key to giving you the volume you want or atleast to have the option.

 

[wlb]

Thanks Mr Green - I will rengage with other ENT specialists to reassess my options. I will definitly get an amp, and buy a few IEM's and find which ones work for me (JH audio ER4S and the RE-0 and whack on some custom moulds) 2 weeks on and a negative bank balance but music back in my world - how cool is that!
 
I must say all the responses have been most helpfull - THX Head Fi!