Certain frequencies hurt

@ erik_squires I did not change power cords to "fix" my ears hurting. The ears started hurting "after" installing new power cords. I got upgraditis and thought changing the generic power cords for "better ones" would increase SQ. The solid state amp started sounding a bit more etchy after that change so I thought switching it out for another Audio Research component would improve the synergy. @ curiousjim I built a pair of OB speakers about a year ago with an increase in the amount of microdetails. No hurting ears. Prior speakers were Monitor Audio Gold 300's. No pain. The SP 20 only has mild sibilance when I use the headphone jack with the Senn 800's, none when I connect any headphones through the Ref 75 power amp speaker taps. The SP 20 is running 6H30Pi tubes with around 550 hours. The Ref 75 came with KT120 output and 6H30 tubes for the input stage. I was told they had about 200 hours on them. Listening volumes are between 65 -78dB. Softer volumes, no pain at all. Even if I hit 80dB it's only certain frequencies that hurt, not everything. There are some pics of my system on virtual systems. Haven't updated the power amp pic yet.

Hyperacusis. Possibly just coincidence with the cables.

https://www.leightons.co.uk/blog/hearing-care/sensitive-to-noise-misophonia-and-hyperacusis-explained

https://www.webmd.com/brain/sound-sensitivity-hyperacusis

Very interesting. I suffer from the exact same thing.

I find that I get pain in my left ear from my speakers as well, but very little if not at all from my headphones. It’s all new kit, Monitor Audio Gold 3005G, Michi X3, Series 2, Focal Clear MG. I know I have some hearing loss in that ear but the ENT guy has no answers for the actual pain.

What I also notice is when listening at very low volumes I find I need to tweak the balance to the left a bit to compensate but at decent volumes, let’s say around 80 decibels or so, the left seems to loud and painful and I can re center or even set the balance to the right a little bit. This will vary depending what i am listening to, be it jazz or rock.

But I find this effect to be almost non existent with headphones?

The ENT did mention hyperacusis during my initial office visit but after my MRI (unremarkable) he just dismissed everything telling me he can find nothing wrong..

Googling led me to the SCM muscle which apparently can cause all sorts of pain in strange places, including the ear. I had 6 sessions with a therapist and I found there was improvement but as my coverage for the therapy ran out I find the pain returning.

I just find it strange that it’s not as evident with headphones.

Would using a headphone amp with your headphones possibly help? Those Sennheisers sure don't need speaker amp type power.... 

+1 check ears first

Is the OP’s tweeters metallic? If so, soft dome might be better