Harbeth, model matched to your listening room size (except the HL5; supertweeters are superfluous if you don't have hi frequency hearing preserved Generally speaking under 30 years old) The RADIAL woofer is known for providing good detail at low listening volumes. It is one of the main reasons with extensive research that I chose Harbeth. A rebuilt QUAD 57 is a good choice also, but the bass is suboptimal (Pun intended)
Magico was mentioned and I wonder whether that might not in fact be true. They are one of the lowest distortion speakers on the market if not the lowest. They generate exceptional detail (I have heard the Q5) That should enable one to listen and be satisfied at low volumes. I'm going to do an audition in a month or so with the S1s to check exactly that characteristic. I am listening to an audition play list over and over to be able to accurately compare to my Harbeth compact 7s. Alan Shaw does not believe a fabric tweeter is any easier on the ear. He has stated in the Harbeth Users Group that it is the crossover that determines how the tweeter will sound primarily.
I would recommend downloading an app for your iPhone or iPad that measures decibels.I use "Decimal 10th." I generally listen at about 60 dB with peaks no more than 70 dB. I find that when I listen if anything beyond that, I have increased tinnitus afterwards.
The research is equivocal, but vitamin B complex and ginkgo biloba taken daily may be helpful. You can do your own research and draw your own conclusions.
Having an audiologist make multiple pairs custom hearing protectors, with varying degrees of decibel attenuation is a good idea when you're going to be in loud environments. Check out "westone." I definitely use them if I go to concerts.I think every audiophile should havethem to protect their hearing. Most smart professional musicians are using custom earpieces to hear music as they to protect their hearing.
I use a non-oversampling (Metrum Octave with Empirical Audio Pace Car; The Metrum modified with better transformer, BNC Input and silver fuse)which sounds more natural to me. In addition, one of the supposed drawback of non-oversampling digital to analog converter is a slight rolloff in the high frequencies. That is an advantage if you have tinnitus. High frequencies are high energy and more likely to cause hearing damage in the first place, and are more likely to cause exacerbations of tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a scourge to audiophiles non-audiophiles alike. I think you're very wise to be asking this question.attending rock concerts in my youth with no protection is one of my regrets in life. There are many professional musicians trying to get the word out to young people, among them Pete Townsend of the Who.
