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Confused Musical Presentation

Disclaimer!.... I have neurological auditory damage from exposure to military ordinance without hearing protection and therefore wear hearing aids. I have suffered a considerable amount of hearing loss above 3000Hz. The effect is similar to a treble tone control turned all the way down! However, I've been a music lover and audiophile since the early 80s and have enjoyed a lot of different systems over those years. My present system consists of Wilson Sophia 1, Quicksilver V4 (KT150), BAT 32SE, Cary DMC 600SE, and analog front end is driven by AVID Pulsus and ZYX 4D. Cables are Analysis Plus all around. I have minimal room treatment in 17 x 28 dedicated listening room. 

My  Problem: Listening to small group jazz (90%), typical audiophile fare, and solo instrumental and vocal music is simply breathtaking even at higher volume levels.  (My max on the volume is 80 out of 140 on BAT) No issues at all. However, when the music gets complicated/complex everything goes to crap! Soundstage collapses, music is jumbled together. There is the same effect even at moderate listening levels. Any suggestions to remedy this would be greatly appreciated.

Mike
communique1
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,607 posts
 
You need an equalizer or comparable modern digital sound processor to compensate for the hearing issues.

All the old guys with old ears like me could probably benefit from one as well to be brutally honest. 🙄
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newbee
4,794 posts
 
Elizabeth, FYI higher end ear aids usually can have multiple programs to match your hearing. So they say. You can have a program for speach and for, say, live music.  But IMHO under the best of circumstances they are not going to give you audio nearly as good as you get from your home system. If I had the need I would use an equalizer to create a curve to match my hearing loss, but contrary to what you might think, I think it would be better to reduce  the bass/mid/upper mid's to match the natural loss of high(er) frequencies. I hate the thought of amplifying your system's sound using any equalizer (except some of those mega expensive ones). 
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
While Miller’s post may have been a little harsh and brutal it is likely the simple truth.

No hearing aid built yet no matter at what cost can replicate the immense complexity and workings of the inner ear and it’s relationship with the brain.

So many simple nuances and discernment is lost and just cannot be regained.

I have worked in heavy industries most of my life and been gratefull I was forced to wear hearing protection at an early age even when I thought it was nonsense.

My last test showed I still detected up to 14khz which I consider pretty darn good for this 59 year young guy considering 40 years in industrial environments.

Sorry for your loss but that is exactly just what it is and you are making the best of it and still enjoying the music( mostly).
asmith99
26 posts
 
I suppose you've tried some reasonably good head phones as apposed to your speakers.
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