|   Ear Fatigue - Any Suggestions? | kenntak
Jul 27, 2002 5:34 AM | | Sorry if this is a repost. I did not see my first post.
I purchased NHT SuperOnes a couple of years ago. At first, I was impressed with the clarity of the sound. However, now when I listen to them my ears become fatigued really quickly. It is difficult to enjoy them now. Any suggestions on reducing ear fatigue? In the alternative, can you recommend any speakers in the $500 range that are easy on the ears and can stand up to long listening. |
| re: Ear Fatigue - Any Suggestions? | Paul L
Jul 27, 2002 6:46 AM | | What is the rest of your system and room acoustics?
Paul Lam
P.L.C.Lam Consulting Inc. |
| re: Ear Fatigue - Any Suggestions? | kenntak
Jul 27, 2002 7:05 AM | | VSX-07TX Pioneer Elite receiver
Pioneer DV-F727 DVD/CD megachanger
The SuperOnes are mounted on the walls (except the center)
The room is 11' by 11' and has a pergo floor. The furniture includes a wooden armoir and 3 wooden tables, 2 leather couches, and a fabric-covered easy chair. The walls are bare and there are two windows in the rear of the room with no curtains. |
| re: Ear Fatigue - Any Suggestions? | Doug C
Jul 27, 2002 8:02 AM | | From the description of your room it sounds like this is part of your problem. I assume there ar no throw rugs on the floor either?
I purchased a pair of SuperOnes a couple years back for my girlfriend. These are hooked up to a Harmon Kardon receiver in a room about twice the size of your's. The room is carpeted, cloth curtains on a large window and fabric covering on all the furniture. In this environment the SuperOnes are not bright at all. I've listened at length to this system many times without fatigue.
Decreasing the treble control on your receiver may help to compensate for all the high frequency reverb. or else get some high frequency absorbing materials on the floor and walls (throw rugs, pillows, etc.). Also try toeing the speakers out so the tweeters are not aimed directly at your head when listening.
I've also found systems that seem bright are often actually lacking in bass, thus the impression of being bright. At one time my girlfriend had her TV in a corner and speakers close on each side. The small SuperOnes just were not getting much bass reinfrocement from the room walls in this configuration (perception was brighter sound). Relocating the TV and speakers along one of the walls and increasing the distance between speakers provided much more pleasing bass and better overall balance.
Doug C. |
| NHT SuperOnes without a subwoofer also fatiguing to my ears | Richard Greene
Jul 29, 2002 7:57 AM | | I have two inexpensive stereo systems in two 13' by 12' bedrooms across the hall from each other. One of the bedroom systems uses NHT SuperOne speakers, selected mainly because my wife thought they looked good.
I originally used the SuperOnes with a DIY subwoofer similar to the Adire Audio Rava (12" long stroke driver in a sealed enclosure) and the system sounded good -- the treble was a little weak above 5,000Hz. (not a problem for me) and the mid-range got congested (distorted) at high volumes (also not a problem in that small room)
.
... But when my wife remodeled the bedroom and tossed out my subwoofer, I immediately noticed the SuperOnes sounded "forward" in the mid-range, with bass roll off under 100Hz, and some treble roll-off above 5,000Hz. -- there was simply too much mid-range and not enough treble and bass (especially bass) for true high fidelity sound.
The resulting listening fatigue problem was only partially solved by turning on the receiver's "loudness" switch
(bass boost) and reducing the volume quite a bit to create "background music".
Acoss the hall in another 13' x 12' bedroom my stereo uses B&W DM 302 speakers and a dual 12" DIY subwoofer.
I experimented by turning off the subwoofer:
The B&W speakers have bass roll-off below 100Hz.,
just like the NHT SuperOnes across the hall,
but they do not seem to be fatiguing when used without a subwoofer, as the SuperOnes are without a subwoofer.
That was not at all what I expected as the DM 302's are a little too bright in the treble -- so I expected that they'd be more fatiguing than the SuperOnes. |
| NHT SuperOnes without a subwoofer also fatiguing to my ears | Doug C
Jul 29, 2002 2:00 PM | | It's always interesting how variations in equipment combinations and rooms can make a speaker sound so completely different. My girlfriends system mentioned above includes a Harmon Kardon receiver that I used with Infinity Overture 3 mains in my house and this combo would simply make my ears bleed at anything above moderate volume. I replaced the HK and that's how the girlfriend ended up with it.
I was really surprised how smooth the SuperOnes are with the HK receiver. Now I have to say that her living room is about 14'x18' and opens into the kitchen/dining room on one side and down a hallway on the other. May be that the larger room reduces the brightness that others describe?
Doug C. |
| re: Ear Fatigue - Any Suggestions? | Jimmy C
Jul 27, 2002 8:21 AM | | Well, you can start by hanging curtains and dampening the first reflection points. Stands would be better than wall-mounting, if possible. One other idea - try a little ring of felt around the tweeter or even hang a piece of toilet paper over it (I know, I know...crude but it IS free...) If the speakers are toed-in, try a flatter position.
As far as new goes, many praise the GR Research Paradox or AV1 kits. Sounds like fun building, if you wanna try that. I would also characterize B&Ws for being "forgiving" or "laid-back" as well as possibly a used pair of Vandy 1CEs.
It is also possible that your music is recorded like crap, not uncommon to be sure. Maybe the source is partly to blame. I think you will get the biggest bang for the buck by deadening your room... |
| re: Ear Fatigue - Any Suggestions? | RGA
Jul 27, 2002 1:05 PM | | It seems to me though that you liked the system for a long while but are now fatigued by it. Of course room acoustics is a big issue...glass for a back wall is not to hot, nor is wall mounting...depends on the speakers though as some are fine in such a set-up. Usually though a speaker likes to be 6inches to 1 and half feet from a rear wall...usually bass is affected the most though.
The super ones are a detail oriented speaker...which when I see that means they tend to cut glass being so sharp in the highs. If after room treatments and positioning doin't help try and find a speaker with a smoother top end. My choice would be look at Mission and or Wharfedale...the models that don't use a metal tweeter.
Good Luck..Sibilance is the most annoying thing when it's out of whack...I'm going through the same problem...tone controls simply muddy up the rest of the sound so to me it's not a fix. |
| re: Ear Fatigue - Any Suggestions? | Derek416
Jul 29, 2002 6:25 AM | | I would even argue that speakers shold be 3-6 feet from the back wall. I've never done less than 2.5 feet. |
| "should" - Pardon my spelling. n/t | Derek416
Jul 29, 2002 6:26 AM | | |
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