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  3. 192181-19946

a resonance in my left ear

(This is a general question but I'm posting here because DACs affect the problem. That might be some clue. I also posted in "Tech Talk" but not sure if I'll get any response.)

I have a "resonance" in my left ear. At certain frequencies the sound will get a lot louder, very similar to a high-Q resonance. It's especially obvious on piano notes.

I can demonstrate to myself it's my left ear and not my equipment in two ways.

  • Put on headphones, listen to the same signal in each ear. Right ear sounds great, left ear has a screeching resonance on certain music.
  • Listen to speakers, plug one ear at a time with earplugs.

One clue is that I have tinnitus in my left ear. It varies in intensity and the resonance is definitely worse when the tinnitus is worse. However I can't tell if the resonance is at the same frequency as the tinnitus, which is very high pitched, while piano notes around 500 Hz typically stimulate the resonance the worst. I've even put a parametric filter on the music to demonstrate a notch at roughly 500 Hz silences the resonance. 

I've been evaluated by an ear doctor. My hearing is within the normal range. He didn't really even seem to understand my description of the resonance and said there was no test that could be performed. I asked for a brain MRI and they did that, but it was normal. 

The resonance is pretty much intolerable as a listening experience for the music and equipment that triggers it strongly. I can tolerate it if the equipment and music doesn't stimulate it too much.

Here's the weird thing. Different DACs will stimulate the resonance to different degrees. For instance the Terminator 1 barely stimulates the resonance, while it goes completely nuts on the Gustard A26 and even more so on the Gustard X20 Pro. The iFi iDSD doesn't stimulate it at all and the Gustard R26 only slightly.

Also the digital front end affects the resonance. When I used a NUC computer as a PC-based system, the resonance was bad on the x20Pro but tolerable. When I switched to an Aurender N100 the overall sound quality improved hugely on the kind of music that doesn't hit the resonance, but the resonance got twice as bad on certain music like piano. 

Wondering if anyone might have any theories.

magon
magon OP
43 posts
 

@symphonicsoul Did I say the Aurender N100 DIDN'T aggravate the issue? It is worse with the resonance compared with what I had before, a NUC PC-based system. A very modest PC-based system. So the N100 was amazing in terms of dynamics and resolution... a clear step up... (I'm not sure about soundstaging, I use mainly headphones and have an acoustically compromised modest speaker system) but also made the ear resonance worse. I want to keep it, though for its strengths. 

I think the issue is more the DAC, because even with the N100, DACs vary in the amount of the resonance they have and some have none. I tried a Terminator this year and it had no resonance. (I thought it was too aggressive on leading edges, though, and returned it). The Gustard X20 Pro, the DAC I had at the time I got the Aurender, seems to be the worst of any I tried. I've since sold it and now I'm testing out the Gustard A26. It's okay, a tolerable amount of resonance, and a great DAC. Better than the x20 Pro. I also am holding out hope that I can solve the resonance. So I'm willing to take a little risk with a little resonance. 

I wasn't a talented musician at the time. Since then I've gotten interested in composing and piano improvisation. I'm still working on those things (fairly beginning at improvisation in classical styles) but these new interests have reconnected me with music at a much deeper level.

symphonicsoul
4 posts
 

@magon ah, ok thanks for the clarification on the resonance issue even with the N100. I've decided to keep my N150 as well because of it's strengths. I was able to reduce some resonance by switching power cords. Might be something to consider.

In regards to the dac issue, when I heard the N150 with the Merason dac 1 mkii at a dealer, I didn't recall any resonance. And I have the same equipment they had, literally, as I bought their demos when the store closed due to the owner passing away. I'm taking the plunge and ordering the Merason. You might want to consider finding a used Merason Dac 1 (first version), as it can be much more affordable. It's known to be less harsh than other dacs and deliver clarity. Kind of an in between a NOS and Sigma.

kennyc
1,494 posts
 

@magon - have you tested your hearing using an real piano? Wondering if it’s the notes indicating a physical hearing problem or something stringent in your audio chain . Did you use a different amplifier for your headphones, or the same as your speakers?

if your speakers have metallic tweeters, maybe switching to soft dome.

if all else fails, agree that left eq headphones maybe the only good option

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