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Recommended solid state amp for user with tinnitus

Hello all,

I'm 58 and been a music lover since my teens. Through a variety of jobs in noisy work environments (metal working), target shooting, loud rock in my teens, etc., etc., I have been a sufferer of tinnitus for many years.

I am finding the 20-year old Martin-Logan Stylos speakers in my home theater are aggravating the tinnitus. I am replacing them as the front left-right mains in my home theater with the new Monitor Audio Gold 300's (gen 5 2019), along with a PS Audio DirectStream DAC. My  Marantz AV7702mkII home theater processor will be the preamp for 2-channel playback. The speakers use a MPD (Micro Pleated Diaphram) high-frequency transducer for the tweeter,  90 dB Sensitivity (1W@1m) • 4 Ohms Nominal Impedance • 3.5 Ohms @1 kHz Minimum Impedance, 250 Watts Power Handling (RMS) • 100 - 250 Watts Recommended Amplifier Requirements (RMS).

I was looking for a solid state amp in the $2000 - $5000 range that would work well with the Gold 300 speakers and keep the sound warm and non-fatiguing with good resolution. Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated. I'm wondering if McIntosh might be suited for my situation(?). Any suggestions for solid state are welcome.

In my office, I have a PrimaLuna HP tube amp, PS Audio DirectStream DAC and Monitor Audio PL100 monitors, and they tend to be much easier on my ears and tinnitus issue. I do NOT want a tube amp for my system that I am asking for recommendations on, no way to place it in my cabinetry.

Thank you in advance,
Sam
128x128samster777
snapsc
676 posts
 
The Parasound Halo has a reputation for top end smoothness...I own the A23 and while it is not the be all end all for minute detail, it has a great low end and mid range...plenty of punch...really good soundstage and will NEVER sound screechy.

Here are a couple of suggestions...but a preowned A23 like the one linked below...or if you prefer black...wait a few weeks and one will undoubtedly pop up.  If you want new....then buy the new A23+ which has a little more power, a little different look...sounds virtually the same but as you might guess, costs more.

If you buy the preowned and don't like it...you can resell it for virtually no loss...if you buy the new model and don't like it...send it back...but I'm pretty sure that this will do the trick.  At the Florida Audio Expo, Martin Logan demonstrated their products with Halo and the room sounded great.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9ff0d-parasound-halo-a23-stereo-power-amplifier-a-23-18626-soli...

https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAHA23P
jimcrane
165 posts
 
I suggest that you try to listen to a Classe amp or integrated.  I use an older CAP 101 with Harbeth monitors, and I think the sound fits your description of what you want.  My model may be older and at the lower end of Classe equipment but you may find another model that you like.  And I hope the approach of addressing the issues caused by tinnitus in various ways will be fruitful.  I hope you will report back.  Good luck.
mrdecibel
3,064 posts
 
Samster777, I am very sorry for what you, and others, are going through, with these issues. Unless I am missing something, you have not mentioned the amplifier you were using to drive the MLs. Have you substituted the Monitor Audios in place of the Logans yet ? I am a retired audio consultant, and have put many systems together for listeners with hearing issues. Using test cds ( or lps ), I was able to determine what frequencies were the most offensive to them, and adding some kind of equalization to cut down on those frequencies, this was helpful. I also found, adding additional acoustic damping to the room, in specific areas, helped quite a bit as well. I believe both of these " fixes " were mentioned above. My best to you. Always, MrD.
ericsch
753 posts
 
Samster, General Hearing Instruments makes a tinnitus masker that I use when my tinnitus is bothersome. You can find the details on their website.
samster777's avatar
samster777 OP
12 posts
 
Thank you everyone for the responses and advice, I truly appreciate you all taking the time to do so.

jimcrane, what I have in my 5.1 theater system is a Classe CAV-150 6-channel x 150w bridgeable amp that I bought new in 1997.

I am considering multiple options to keep this amp in my system, in these possible configurations:

A) Bridge the Classe six channels to three channels, 300w x 2 for front left-right (Monitor Audio Gold 300's), 300x x 1 center channel, add a new 2-channel amp for rear surrounds

B) Use the balanced inputs on the Classe and have 150w x 2 for the Monitor Audio front left-right, bridge 300W to the center channel, use the remaining two channels 150w x 2 for the rear surrounds (no additional financial outlay, use what I have)

C) Buy a new 2-channel amp (hence my question on here) for the front left-right (Monitor Audio Gold 300's), bridge the Classe six channels to three channels, 300w x 1 for the center channel, 300w x 2 for rear surrounds

I did call Classe this morning and they said as long as I don't hear anything going, like one channel playing louder than another, to keep the CAV-150 going in my system. I asked if this 6-channel amp was a step down from their two-channel audiophile grade amps, and I got a somewhat reserved yes, not that they would describe it as a step-down, but not quite the same level as a dedicated 2-channel amp, BUT still head and shoulders above average consumer products by far.

Thoughts?

Thanks again,
Sam
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