I'm an audio enthusiast and have invested quite a bit in the hope of being able to enjoy music despite my tinnitus and hyperacusis.
One thing I've noticed is how different audio sources and driver types affect my tinnitus, seemingly independent of frequency response. Although I'd call myself an enthusiast only loosely, I'm still trying to understand the "how" and "why" behind these effects.
For instance, I often find that planar magnetic headphones don't aggravate my tinnitus, even when I adjust the EQ to add a bass shelf or alter the treble. In my experience, they don't feel as "tactile," and some people suggest they generally have a more compressed dynamic range. I assume this might make them gentler on my ears, along with the level of transparency and detail they provide.
On the other hand, dynamic drivers, especially biodynamic drivers like those from Denon or Fostex, seem to worsen my symptoms. I notice that they tend to have a punchier bass, and I've been told that treble breakup might be more common with biodynamics. I have to listen at very low volumes, yet my tinnitus still reacts, though it usually only results in a slight increase for a short time.
For me, speakers are probably the easiest on my ears. In terms of comfort, I'd rank them as speakers, open-backs, in-ears, and then closed-backs. I suspect that a big factor is how much pressure builds up against or inside my ears.
I still use all types for different scenarios, and I've come across outliers that don't entirely fit this pattern. I think tuning might be a factor here, which could partially explain why some ANC headphones are particularly problematic for people due to accentuated bass. I've heard that lower frequencies are more likely to be masked by noise, which might contribute to this effect.
One thing I've noticed is how different audio sources and driver types affect my tinnitus, seemingly independent of frequency response. Although I'd call myself an enthusiast only loosely, I'm still trying to understand the "how" and "why" behind these effects.
For instance, I often find that planar magnetic headphones don't aggravate my tinnitus, even when I adjust the EQ to add a bass shelf or alter the treble. In my experience, they don't feel as "tactile," and some people suggest they generally have a more compressed dynamic range. I assume this might make them gentler on my ears, along with the level of transparency and detail they provide.
On the other hand, dynamic drivers, especially biodynamic drivers like those from Denon or Fostex, seem to worsen my symptoms. I notice that they tend to have a punchier bass, and I've been told that treble breakup might be more common with biodynamics. I have to listen at very low volumes, yet my tinnitus still reacts, though it usually only results in a slight increase for a short time.
For me, speakers are probably the easiest on my ears. In terms of comfort, I'd rank them as speakers, open-backs, in-ears, and then closed-backs. I suspect that a big factor is how much pressure builds up against or inside my ears.
I still use all types for different scenarios, and I've come across outliers that don't entirely fit this pattern. I think tuning might be a factor here, which could partially explain why some ANC headphones are particularly problematic for people due to accentuated bass. I've heard that lower frequencies are more likely to be masked by noise, which might contribute to this effect.
