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Ears hurt when listening after changing speakers

For years I had multiple models of Maggies and Martin Logan speakers. I could play them very loud with no problems with my ears. A few months ago I purchased the Rockport Aviors and now when I listen at moderate to high levels my ears start to hurt.  Anyone one else experience this when changing speakers and would like thoughts on how to resolve other than turning the volume down.  I do love the Rockport.
128x128lourdes
erik_squires
16,118 posts
 
Room acoustics.

The maggies probably had more controlled dispersion. The new speakers have a wider dispersion.

Try throwing some blankets and pillows on the floor, between and behind and to the sides of your new speakers. If this makes things better, it's a good clue where to go next.
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cleeds
5,957 posts
 
teo_audio
reduction in spl vs seating distance is almost perfectly linear with panel speakers and is almost exponential with point source speakers.
Huh? How can that possibly be? Have you actually measured this? Also, there are panel speakers that are also point sources, so how does that factor into your equation?
audiokinesis
2,738 posts
 

" The new speakers have a wider dispersion. "

Imo there may well be a correlation between WHERE the dispersion is wide and WHAT lourdes is hearing.

According to Stereophile's measurements, the Rockports are dead flat on-axis.  This means they inevitably have excess off-axis energy at the bottom end of the tweeter's range, and sure enough, we see an off-axis energy flare around 3 kHz, accompanied by a corresponding bump in the in-room response in that region.  

Duke

audiokinesis
2,738 posts
 

Teo wrote: "reduction in spl vs seating distance is almost perfectly linear with panel speakers and is almost exponential with point source speakers."

Cleeds asked: "Huh? How can that possibly be? Have you actually measured this?"

Intensity (in this case sound pressure level) falls off by 6 dB for each doubling of distance from a point source, and by 3 dB for each doubling of distance from a line source. I’ve measured it, but that was many years ago and I don’t have those measurements in front of me.

(In fact, one of the challenges with a hybrid system like the Martin Logans arises from the fact that the panel is approximating a line source while the woofer is approximating a point source, so the spectral balance changes with distance.  Room reflections mitigate the discrepancy somewhat, but in my experience it is still measurable and audible.)

That being said, I doubt this is a significant factor in what lourdes is describing.

Duke

erik_squires
16,118 posts
 
Intensity (in this case sound pressure level) falls off by 6 dB for each doubling of distance from a point source, and by 3 dB for each doubling of distance from a line source.

@audiokinesis

Yep, this is one of the main engineering arguments people have for why hybrid speakers don’t integrate well. An argument I usually find is dispelled with bass traps and proper EQ. :)

I mean, yes, ultimately this makes the speakers 1 distance speakers, but if you are all at a couch, for instance, integration works.


Best,
E

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