Help with Hearing Loss in updating my system

[wolcottjl]

I am a veteran with some hearing loss on the high side. My lovely wife bought me a turntable with an upgraded needle and system upgrades for the basement sound system. New amplifier is a Yamaha AS501 and speakers are ELAC DBR62 reference to go along with my existing martin logan subwoofer. The elac towers are moving back upstairs. Not the high end system but a decent set for my basement. I am enjoying the sound but feel I am missing out. My music tastes are broad to say the least. I tend to listen to hair metal, van halen, def leppard, journey, ac/dc etc.... But also old delta blues (lightning Hopkins) , modern jazz, classical (goldberg variatioins by Glen Gould), esoteric (Michael Hedges), etc.... So with this simple explanation how can I adjust my system to account for my hearing loss I am sharing the loss from my latest test. In my youth I always had an equalizer in my system. These days they have dissapeared.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @wolcottjl! Welcome to ASR.

I'd do turntable -> external Phono Pre -> WiiM Pro/Pro Plus Line in/out -> RCA -> Yamaha A-S501 Line in.

The WiiM has 10-band Parametric EQ per channel, which you can configure to compensate for hearing loss, as well as to correct the Elac's anechoic response and to tame room modes (if you want).

 

[wolcottjl]

Thank You - I will take a look. Quck glance looks promising.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I'd do turntable -> external Phono Pre -> WiiM Pro/Pro Plus Line in/out -> RCA -> Yamaha A-S501 Line in.

I believe the Yamaha supports S/PDIF input. In which case, why not the following:

turntable ==RCA==> Waxwing ==S/PDIF==> WiiM Pro* ==S/PDIF==> Yamaha A-S501

If cost can support it, the Waxwing brings great benefits for conditioning the audio from the turntable (pops, clicks, hiss, etc.). And it will then send the audio on to the WiiM in digital format, which allows for placing the turntable a distance away without the usual risk of noise in a long-run RCA cable.

* No need for WiiM Pro Plus in this chain since output digital. But Pro Plus brings a better DAC chip if you would use RCA output. Then again, normal humans like us with hearing loss would not be able to discern any difference either way.

 

[staticV3]

I believe the Yamaha supports S/PDIF input. In which case, why not the following:

turntable ==RCA==> Waxwing ==S/PDIF==> WiiM Pro* ==S/PDIF==> Yamaha A-S501

Having to purchase an additional Phono pre on top of the WiiM for correction I imagine is already a more expensive solution than what OP was hoping for.

If OP doesn't mind spending as much on the Phono pre as what the A-S501 cost, then yeah definitely the Waxwing would be the one to go for.

I doubt it though.

which allows for placing the turntable a distance away without the usual risk of noise in a long-run RCA cable.

Also possible w/o Waxwing:

Turntable->1ft RCA->Phono Pre->1ft RCA->WiiM->10ft Toslink->A-S501

 

[staticV3]

That being said, the Waxwing could function as both your Phono pre, and as a tool to correct hearing loss.

Advantages:
- All-in-one
- Many phono-related functions to improve sound quality

Disadvantage:
Only available hearing loss correction is balance control, so to restore the center point.
No timbre correction possible like on the WiiM.

 

[LTig]

IME one can use EQ to improve the sound, but not completely (total correction of loss). Your hearing has adjusted to what it experiences today, so for example rising the highs by 20 dB would lead to a overly bright sound. Same is true for the balance: rising the highs higher on the left speaker shifts the perceived balance to the left and sounds unnatural.

You could on the other hand get hearing aids and use them for listening. The pros recommend to use hearing aids all day so the hearing sense adjusts to them as the new normal.

 

[LGD_]

My hearing loss is worse than yours,, and equalizing my system brings it all back - almost all anyway (lol)....
There's plenty of stand-alone equalizers out there (check the used market), it will make a world of difference for you.

 

[wolcottjl]

Thank You all. A bit of research to go.

 

[garbulky]

Hey my condolences on your hearing loss. I am dreading when it'll happen to me