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Hearing loss and audio reviewers ? READ ON

I have always found it very funny that the age where many of us get finally able to afford some of the high end audio gear...comes at a time where our hearing is no longer 100%.

What about audio reviewers ?

What is even funnier is the ''analysis'' of minute sound differences between things like cables and amplifers by couch potato reviewers like Sam ''wine-and-dine-me-for-a-review'' Tellig - and so many others - that probably could not hear the difference between a Taco Bell and a cow bell - as we NEVER question their hearing ability.

Is this not a very important issue - and bias - to take into account - that would affect one's credibility when making any comments on how hi-fi gear sound? And these guys go on describing gear with ridiculous adjectives as if gear had a mind of it's own, and as if they can actually HEAR all of these subtilities.

I'm not saying some of these reviewers cannot hear properly - many can, of course. It's just that it would be nice to know what hearing competence they actually have before they use this very real power to either lift of harm some of the smaller manufacturers with their reviews.

What if, just for example, there was a hearing test done by an credible organization that showed that Mr.Tellig or (put your favorite reviewer's name here) and that showed hearing loss of 30% - or - even worse - a frequency area that has become insensitive to the reviewer. If for example, Tellig no longer can hear correctly in the midrange frequencies - and he goes on raving about brandX speaker and it's ''glorious midrange''?

I say publish a hearing graph for all of these reviewers that we put on a pedestal! I'm dreaming of course but you get the point...

B-T-W, same goes for ''expert'' salespeople comments in hi-fi shops.

This is why the ultimate test will always be our own ears-on experience. Anything else is just toy and gear lust - nothing wrong with that, that's what a large part of this hobby is about anyways....

What do you think ?
soniqmike
gregm
3,405 posts
 
"Perfect hearing" as described above correlates to the upper frequency response of the system and, mostly SPL. That's only one parametre -- and, outside a FR window (say 15-16kHz), not the most important one IMO.

Coherency, correct reproduction of instruments in relation to one another, etc are more important. So an experienced listener (reviewer) even with losses over 15-16kHz should be able to give a good report on what's going on.

As always, personal "bias" or taste isa important to understand if the writer's opinion is consistent and thereby, of any value.
psag
518 posts
 
Any reviewer who admits to hearing impairment might fear putting his/her job and/or reputation in jeopardy. Recently, John Atkinson published the results of his most current hearing test, and he hears quite well for his age. Would he have published it if the results were not so good?
On the other hand, Jonathan Valin recently admitted to some recent milg high frequency hearing loss in one ear, and he is to be commended for his honesty.
psag
518 posts
 
Sorry, I meant 'mild'.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
At 77 years of age,. I'm probably among the eldest among the  membership here at Audiogon. I'm blessed with good hearing. I'm sure some of the ultra high frequencies have been compromised, but as some have said before in this thread ... the audio hobby continues to be enjoyable if you know what to listen for. 

At this point, my worry isn't with my hearing ... my worry is living long enough to listen to the thousands of recordings I've amassed over the years. 

Respect your elders guys ... you'll all be here soon enough (if you're lucky). 
tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos
1,197 posts
 
Oregonpapa, have you checked?  I was shocked and dismayed to find my h.f. hearing diminished while still in my forties.  Checking again years later, it has diminished further.  But I wouldn't have suspected it without an actual test.

Sometimes I get the feeling that 77 is the average age here, FWIW.
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