Fascinating thread Rh. Whether or not a person "gets into" (and few do) high end audio probably has most to do with attitudes, interests, preferences, and exposure to "good music reproduction" etc-- rather than much to do with hearing. Of course the high end is expensive both in terms of money and TIME.
We (audiophiles) often talk about the dollar cost of this hobby, but there are many other time consuming hobbies available to us, and most people just won't sit still and do nothing but listen to music like we do-- yet,(oddly) many can watch TV for hours at a time.
Your 'phone comparison is interesting too. My right ear has slightly worse hearing acuity than my left, yet I always use the 'phone with my right ear-- and I'm right handed too. So, I agree 'phone useage is a learned behavior.
And I agree with Sam too, ie I would not buy a pre-amp without balance control because of the difference in hearing acuity of my ears. Yet this slight impairment has not diminished my interest in this "sport". Cheers. Craig
We (audiophiles) often talk about the dollar cost of this hobby, but there are many other time consuming hobbies available to us, and most people just won't sit still and do nothing but listen to music like we do-- yet,(oddly) many can watch TV for hours at a time.
Your 'phone comparison is interesting too. My right ear has slightly worse hearing acuity than my left, yet I always use the 'phone with my right ear-- and I'm right handed too. So, I agree 'phone useage is a learned behavior.
And I agree with Sam too, ie I would not buy a pre-amp without balance control because of the difference in hearing acuity of my ears. Yet this slight impairment has not diminished my interest in this "sport". Cheers. Craig