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Accounting for slight hearing loss

On a whim and with a suspicion, I recently had a hearing test and it showed some loss in left.  Mainly around 3k and then recovers some above that.  I had noticed (after many good tips gathered on Agon) after really paying attention to set up and room, featured vocal/instrument was often right of center, almost never left.  Mind you, i still hear all freq, even quite  high and get great staging but often, its annoyingly with a right bias.  Maybe that's where he's supposed to be!  Thats actually not a trivial point.  Funny thing, I can listen to MD Kind of Blue in mono and I sense no shift. Quite opposite as instruments still have some staging. Go figure.  

Any tips or tweaks to compensate?  Ok, here's where I might be all wet.  Lower resistance to tweeter in left XO (phase issues with right?)  A mod to extend left baffle above the tweeter some?  Simple "Left" on amp works but isnt freq specific.  Im suspicious that using an EQ unit will degrade overall sound although that seems the most obvious.  Do they?  Speakers are Madisound kit Klang+Ton NADA designed with Scanspeak Illuminator drivers.  In Lee Taylor cabinets.  Amp is Rogue Sphinx V2 (A/D). 
Thanks in advance.  Otherwise it's a tad "L" on the amp.
akgwhiz
erik_squires
15,647 posts
 
If it were me, I’d account for the loss in an EQ before my DAC. If that’s’ not an option you can take, the Schiit Loki may work for you. You’ll have to kind of hack it, you’ll only use one channel. :)

Digital EQ's are a lot more transparent, and can you hear them? I don't know, but I can tell you that making up for your hearing loss is a lot better than not.

Best,

E
geof3
1,124 posts
 
If a tad left on the amp works to center, that is a good, easy option. Another thing you might try is an offset speaker arrangement. Side to side, possibly even front to back. Sometimes it works to set speakers “off” of one another to deal with various phase and room issues. Could be as simple as a little more, or a little less toe in. To the extreme of a completely asymmetrical setup. Experiment, your ears will tell you what is best. Since none of us can hear (or not) what you hear we are simply shooting in the air. 
akgwhiz OP
176 posts
 
Erik, just looked  at Loki.  Inexpensive enough to try.  But it can go between transport and DAC? I use a Cambridge CXC to an MHDT Orchid.  Otherwise it's my ProJect TT to Vincent Pho8. 

Jaytor, I like your thinking.  Simple enough but I've  made the right wall absorptive some already. 
needfreestuff's avatar
needfreestuff
572 posts
 
Something wrong with hearing aids. It will correct your hearing loss and fix your balance. I would Think that correcting your hearing loss would be a number one priority. All the best.
erik_squires
15,647 posts
 
The Loki is RCA analog only.  If you want something that sits between a CD player and DAC, this will do the trick:

https://www.minidsp.com/products/minidsp-in-a-box/nanodigi-2x8-b


But... perhaps you should consider a miniDSP with built in streaming? This will not only get you the EQ you are looking for, but also add music services:

https://www.minidsp.com/products/streaming-hd-series
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