Is it me or new audio gear is too perfect and give ear fatigue?


Since getting back into the hobby during covid I’ve really enjoyed listening to music vs. bluetooth low quality speakers.  Since listening to my Nautilus 803 speakers with old Yamaha Amps (MX1, MX1000) they’ve been sweet sounding and warm.

A lot of people have said the new equipment is near perfect chasing specs, sounding bright and causing ear fatigue.

Curious if people feel the same?

webking185

Curious if people feel the same?

Ear fatigue is caused by higher ordered harmonic distortion that isn't masked by the music or lower ordered harmonics. Its also caused by intermodulations and aliasing in digital gear (which is intermodulations of a different sort). The ear assigns 'harsh and bright' to these distortions and since it uses the higher ordered harmonics to sense sound pressure, is keenly sensitive to their presence even in tiny amounts.

There's plenty of gear out there that can be harsh and bright. Usually the problems show up when you are within 6dB of full power; if your system sounds 'loud' at higher volumes then its an issue. If you are not having problems with these kinds of distortion the system will not sound loud even if it is; IOW you might be surprised to find that you have to yell at someone sitting next to you to be heard.

 

I get ear fatigue when the presentation is what I call too bright.  Changing Tubes (or even amps) and DACs is how I deal with it. 

If I find myself turning the music down because it sounds too loud (I listen at 68 to 75 dB) then I have a brightness problem.

Jerry

I have heard many fatiguing systems like you describe. Typically the higher end the less “fatigue” will be involved. The inexpensive stuff typically has a very high noise floor (this is subtle to hear directly for the non-trained ear… it just manifests itself as fatigue) and high frequency distortion. These go away with high quality detailed oriented equipment. But you can easily still be left with over accentuated details and a lean threadbare presentation with good bass slam.

I have left many an audition shaking my head in disbelief. On the other hand 40 or fifty years ago I would have left extolling all the virtues.

To me one of the long term draws of the pursuit is learning about sound and music as well as equipment and sound reproduction. Each like an onion… you peal back one after another layer and find more aspects of musical reproduction. In my youth I crave the obvious… details and slam. As I got much more experienced imaging, soundstaging, overall balance. But as I learned what real music sounds (acoustical) I started realizing capturing the musical essence has to do with rhythm and pace, mid range bloom and balanced presentation. No end… just keeps getting better.