Newbie theater struggles - ear damage, calibration

[Faustblix]

Hey fellas,

Been a long time. I watched these forums plotting to build something someday. Well, I finally did.

7.0 kef Q series. Sub is pushed out for when I can afford it. Thinking 3000 micro, if at all. Bravia 7 75.

Great, so what's wrong?
Visiting an ENT and taking audio assessments for hearing damage.

Despite listening at low decibels (80 infrequent peak), and audio spectrum tests in the room, despite everything seeming above board... I woke up with horrible tinnitus in my left ear, as well as Eustacian tube dysfunction. Didn't take long. One week of use while waiting for next weekend to build treatments. Stopped using the system for a week in between.

Virtually exact same story as this fella. I'm denon as well.:

Ear Discomfort/Fatigue with New Home Theater

Unfortunately I'm another new hometheater owner facing a similar issue... I've tried to best document what could be causing it. I have read through the forums and Reddit and it seems this happens to other users as well. Here is a 360 view of my setup, it's not the right or perfect setup so...

www.avsforum.com

Now I've just DIY'd 2x4ft acoustic panels. 4" deep, safe n sound rockwool. As well picked up 6X 2x4ft thin poly wedge panels. Room sounds much better, but still amps up any tinnitus I'm suffering, no matter how safe metrics are.

I'm about to invest in building bass traps with perforated cylinder concrete forms (dense cardboard) likely, but I'm worried that no matter what room treatments, the kef 150s could just be dangerous for some folks.

I worry first for my ears that this may be permanent.
I worry second that all this investment and life's aim was for nothing.

Bravia digital noise is hardly worth talking about til I figure audio out. This is half venting I guess, half hoping for the abracadabra you fellas always seem to have in your wealth of wisdom. Sad times. To wince when your son laughs, and spend two weeks without music and film.

God bless.

 

[flippo]

The brand of speaker or amp is not what caused tinnitus.

For sub look at RSL Speedwoofer 10e, Great bargain.

 

[Faustblix]

The brand of speaker or amp is not what caused tinnitus.

For sub look at RSL Speedwoofer 10e, Great bargain.

I was reading some people suggest metal dome tweeters paired with audyssey could create unexpected harshness.

Jeeze, that RSL might turn bass into a reality for me. Thanks for this. Much cheaper and effective! Will wait for the ear exam then looks like this is definitely the one if outcome is positive!

 

[lovinthehd]

Doubtful it seems this was the trigger from your use description. How old are you? I have some tinnitus which is much more likely an accumulation over many years, I definitely haven't been particularly kind to my ears, altho I have toned it down quite a bit, but still play my audio systems a bit louder than 80dB peaks....altho not as frequently as I used to. Hope you can beat it, but once it arrives, that seems quite rare to eliminate it, best of luck!

 

[Faustblix]

Dzz,,, x

Doubtful it seems this was the trigger from your use description. How old are you? I have some tinnitus which is much more likely an accumulation over many years, I definitely haven't been particularly kind to my ears, altho I have toned it down quite a bit, but still play my audio systems a bit louder than 80dB peaks....altho not as frequently as I used to. Hope you can beat it, but once it arrives, that seems quite rare to eliminate it, best of luck!

Almost 40. My boy's screeching hits much higher db, but we had experienced some surreal room pressure not captured in db measurement at first. Peaks at 53hz. My mrs after first time watching a film the other night said her whole head felt swollen with a headache from it. I've had minor bouts of ringing before. Never so loud. Never for so long. The odd firearms use, jam session, concert. I've never had it be louder than people would whisper to you. Missing part of the world now. Doc has me taking meds hoping it's coincidental and part of something viral / allergic.

After reading the avsforum post, it gave me pause.

 

[lovinthehd]

Dzz,,, x


Almost 40. My boy's screeching hits much higher db, but we had experienced some surreal room pressure not captured in db measurement at first. Peaks at 53hz. My mrs after first time watching a film the other night said her whole head felt swollen with a headache from it. I've had minor bouts of ringing before. Never so loud. Never for so long. The odd firearms use, jam session, concert. I've never had it be louder than people would whisper to you. Missing part of the world now. Doc has me taking meds hoping it's coincidental and part of something viral / allergic.

After reading the avsforum post, it gave me pause.

Didn't hit me until my early 60s. It's not a particularly bad case, altho can be a bit annoying when I'm really tired, as it is "louder" then. I've read comments of people getting nauseous from too much subwoofage. Have you tried rearranging speakers if you're getting unusual spikes from room modes?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Any loud noises in your job or everyday living outside of your audio

 

[Happy Joe]

I figured out (after the doctor put me on blood pressure medicine) that my tinnitus is related to high blood pressure, when loud.
I did have one job in a building where subsonic vibrations would occasionally shake the floor;, I learned to live with it.

Enjoy!

 

[Faustblix]

I've been rearranging panels trying to find the right balance but I Haven't toed the towers yet. Another thing I Haven't tried yet is blocking 150 ports, or at least partially.

ENT just found a large clear fluid buildup behind the ear she said she's never seen before. I'm pulling out all the stops, taking steroids, antiinflammatory, antacids, extra rest. I'm still pretty messed up. They're going to sample the fluid likely. At a minimum there's eustacian dysregulation. No loud noises at work other than self inflicted ones. SE846. Sometimes I indulge and go louder than I should, but not often. Lots of time in meetings with cheap headsets can sometimes add treble harshness. All pale in comparison to one shriek from my 3 year old running away from imaginary dinosaurs.

Blood pressure comes back regular, but I'll keep my eyes peeled for it. Simple deals like a kettle boiling now are harsh. Least docs don't think it'll be permanent. Audio exam end of the month. 2 mo ent followup.

For now all I can do is put ear plugs in and let software and microphone read the room, to iron out the kinks while I follow doc's orders. I'll diy superchunks. Last option is to eq it out. Neither fix my ears' current state. Just make me hopeful I'd have something to return to.

Thanks for your advice and support fellas. Wonder how much of this is just coincidence and growing old.

God bless

 

[mtrycrafts]

Growing old at almost 40?

 

[lovinthehd]

Growing old at almost 40?

Seems many suffer from tinnitus that early, I knew several at his age.

 

[Kingnoob]

Hey fellas,

Been a long time. I watched these forums plotting to build something someday. Well, I finally did.

7.0 kef Q series. Sub is pushed out for when I can afford it. Thinking 3000 micro, if at all. Bravia 7 75.

Great, so what's wrong?
Visiting an ENT and taking audio assessments for hearing damage.

Despite listening at low decibels (80 infrequent peak), and audio spectrum tests in the room, despite everything seeming above board... I woke up with horrible tinnitus in my left ear, as well as Eustacian tube dysfunction. Didn't take long. One week of use while waiting for next weekend to build treatments. Stopped using the system for a week in between.

Virtually exact same story as this fella. I'm denon as well.:

Ear Discomfort/Fatigue with New Home Theater

Unfortunately I'm another new hometheater owner facing a similar issue... I've tried to best document what could be causing it. I have read through the forums and Reddit and it seems this happens to other users as well. Here is a 360 view of my setup, it's not the right or perfect setup so...

www.avsforum.com

Now I've just DIY'd 2x4ft acoustic panels. 4" deep, safe n sound rockwool. As well picked up 6X 2x4ft thin poly wedge panels. Room sounds much better, but still amps up any tinnitus I'm suffering, no matter how safe metrics are.

I'm about to invest in building bass traps with perforated cylinder concrete forms (dense cardboard) likely, but I'm worried that no matter what room treatments, the kef 150s could just be dangerous for some folks.

I worry first for my ears that this may be permanent.
I worry second that all this investment and life's aim was for nothing.

Bravia digital noise is hardly worth talking about til I figure audio out. This is half venting I guess, half hoping for the abracadabra you fellas always seem to have in your wealth of wisdom. Sad times. To wince when your son laughs, and spend two weeks without music and film.

God bless.

The ENT I went to was no help for my ear pain most likely I hyperacusis or severe tinnitus I do have ear ringing often too. He couldn’t provide a diagnosis or even a remedy . Cinemas , previous jobs , loud car music , etc all are possible causes . Loud people and yelling .
3000 micro could work or the ported 1000 series .

 

[Faustblix]

Well, for what it's worth, over a week now on steroid nasal spray. Ear starting to pop with jaw movement. A good sign supposedly, but still hasn't stopped the ringing. At least partial opening of the tube has relieved pressure headaches, just in time to visit an audio fest.
https://kromaatelier.com/jovita/ blew me away, with b&w abbey road right behind.

I think I've determined heat pump is playing a big part of room mode stacking on 53hz. For immediate relief I loosely plugged the ports on side surrounds and enabled LFC @ 4. My back wall has a lot of bass build up still, but I notice it in stereo, so not a lot I can do other than to stay in front of it. Grabbed some 1x3 and 2x2. Will try to make some 7 ft superchunk traps. Even with 4 inch deep panels on the back wall they grab nothing.

I can't imagine an ENT saying you're SOL. Maybe worth getting a second opinion @Kingnoob . Hope in future there's a remedy like plasma injections (prp). When you pinch your nose, and blow do both ears pressurize easily? I'd never have thought a blocked tube can give tinnitus like this.