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Hearing loss and audio reviewers ? READ ON

I have always found it very funny that the age where many of us get finally able to afford some of the high end audio gear...comes at a time where our hearing is no longer 100%.

What about audio reviewers ?

What is even funnier is the ''analysis'' of minute sound differences between things like cables and amplifers by couch potato reviewers like Sam ''wine-and-dine-me-for-a-review'' Tellig - and so many others - that probably could not hear the difference between a Taco Bell and a cow bell - as we NEVER question their hearing ability.

Is this not a very important issue - and bias - to take into account - that would affect one's credibility when making any comments on how hi-fi gear sound? And these guys go on describing gear with ridiculous adjectives as if gear had a mind of it's own, and as if they can actually HEAR all of these subtilities.

I'm not saying some of these reviewers cannot hear properly - many can, of course. It's just that it would be nice to know what hearing competence they actually have before they use this very real power to either lift of harm some of the smaller manufacturers with their reviews.

What if, just for example, there was a hearing test done by an credible organization that showed that Mr.Tellig or (put your favorite reviewer's name here) and that showed hearing loss of 30% - or - even worse - a frequency area that has become insensitive to the reviewer. If for example, Tellig no longer can hear correctly in the midrange frequencies - and he goes on raving about brandX speaker and it's ''glorious midrange''?

I say publish a hearing graph for all of these reviewers that we put on a pedestal! I'm dreaming of course but you get the point...

B-T-W, same goes for ''expert'' salespeople comments in hi-fi shops.

This is why the ultimate test will always be our own ears-on experience. Anything else is just toy and gear lust - nothing wrong with that, that's what a large part of this hobby is about anyways....

What do you think ?
soniqmike
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
Bigtee
When I read reviewers articles, I try to look at what they liked over the years. It shows their biases. I found the bright, sterile sound of some audio equipment horrible. I like a little warmth and harmonic texture. Human voices don't sound sterile in real life! I look for reviewers with similar tastes. We are ALL biased you know.

A PERFECT answer. I tell people the same thing.

It matters not so much how every reviewer hears, but how a reviewers hearing (and taste) matches up to your own preferences.

If reviewer "A" always loves equipment and set ups that you hate, avoid his recommendations.

If reviewer "B" hits the bulls eye most of the time, raving about the same things you like, then give that equipment a shot to see if it works for you.

I have listened to so many systems that I can sit down with someone and get input on what they like and recommend changes that will get them closer to where they want to be. It does not matter if the changes are what I like, only that I understand what direction THEY want to go.

That's why so many different kinds of equipment are popular and why there is disagreement as to what is best.
johnjbarlow's avatar
johnjbarlow
175 posts
 
I have some hearing loss at age 49. I listen to different components with the same ears. I can tell differences even with my compromised hearing. After all, they are my ears. Whether it is component A or component B, I hear them with the same ears.
tarsando
578 posts
 
Make that three cheers for Beethoven!
r_f_sayles's avatar
r_f_sayles
872 posts
 
HUGH! Sorry, couldn't resist. I may not have the greatest hearing statistically but I'd still enjoy the Pixies over Yanni. Happy Listening!
gregm
3,405 posts
 
"Perfect hearing" as described above correlates to the upper frequency response of the system and, mostly SPL. That's only one parametre -- and, outside a FR window (say 15-16kHz), not the most important one IMO.

Coherency, correct reproduction of instruments in relation to one another, etc are more important. So an experienced listener (reviewer) even with losses over 15-16kHz should be able to give a good report on what's going on.

As always, personal "bias" or taste isa important to understand if the writer's opinion is consistent and thereby, of any value.
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