Speakers for Those with Digital Audio Sensitivity

[kingsfan]

Thanks for the reply.

I completely forgot about the 5 band EQ on the app (looked this morning). Looks like I had 2 kHz+ turned down anyway.

This morning I took off everything above 600 Hz and listened to three of my fave songs I haven't heard in months. I didn't notice much of a difference ear wise, but sometimes it doesn't come out til morning.

OK, so now I have a DAC converter running between the laptop and speaker, and will add the audio mixer shortly and sample the audio from both laptop and TV and see if I can get a bearable balance.

I must admit I looked far and wide for a simple 7-15 EQ band equalizer. I didn't see many that had a simple 3.5 mm jack in and out - and all were advised as being suitable for a car or guitar - so I wasn't really sure what I could join together, and after about 3 hours of looking and researching I opted for the audio mixer as that I can see a 3.5 mm in and out.

EDIT:

OK I have had to scrap the audio mixer. Why on earth do these things need to be so complicated!

I can't find a way of 3.5 mm jack audio in from laptop or TV - adjust using a 7 or 15 channel EQ bands - and then 3.5mm out to speaker. → This is what I purchased.

I can build laptops, code apps for the iOS and Android store - but not figure out simple basic audio connections and frequency control!

Would the ART EQ341 do this job - without getting in to a home theatre system?

I don't think that mixer has an EQ on it. I just see a bunch of different volume knobs and faders.

You can get cables that are 3.5mm on one end and another type of adapter on the other.

Take the ART EQ341 for example:

It has the following inputs/outputs:
- XLR (balanced)
- 1/8in (balanced)
- RCA (unbalanced)

So say you wanted to connect your devices with the RCA input and output. You would just need to buy two 3.5mm to RCA auxiliary cables. Though I think this might only give you a mono mix on this particular EQ unit.

Careful if you choose XLR, as you would need one with a male and one with a female, but I would be most comfortable connecting things this way.

As far as the mixer goes, there are a lot of input/outputs.

Inputs I would try:
- USB input. (I think you should be able to just plug your computer directly into this without the DAC)
- Stereo RCA inputs (use a 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable)

Output I would try:
- Stereo RCA (use another 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable)

 

[DeanD]

I don't think that mixer has an EQ on it. I just see a bunch of different volume knobs and faders.

You can get cables that are 3.5mm on one end and another type of adapter on the other.

Take the ART EQ341 for example:

View attachment 55781

It has the following inputs/outputs:
- XLR (balanced)
- 1/8in (balanced)
- RCA (unbalanced)

So say you wanted to connect your devices with the RCA input and output. You would just need to buy two 3.5mm to RCA auxiliary cables. Though I think this might only give you a mono mix on this particular EQ unit.

Careful if you choose XLR, as you would need one with a male and one with a female, but I would be most comfortable connecting things this way.

As far as the mixer goes, there are a lot of input/outputs.

Inputs I would try:
- USB input. (I think you should be able to just plug your computer directly into this without the DAC)
- Stereo RCA inputs (use a 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable)

Output I would try:
- Stereo RCA (use another 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable)

Thank you @kingsfan - that has all made perfect sense, and I now know what I am looking for!

Many thanks - really appreciated!

 

[Kumashi]

I wonder if the audio compression isn't the issue here.

Perhaps you need something with an adjustable EQ.

I have a Sonos Roam that I have been using with my computer without much issue. It is Bluetooth and AirPlay compatible, and EQ can be set on the device itself. It's only a 3-band EQ though. You can also set the max volume threshold so you'll never get your ears blown out if the volume is accidentally left too high. I've used it with Teams and Zoom so far.

I normally use Kali Audio LP-6 powered studio monitors with my computer. I love these monitors. They can be a little bright, so EQing is a must. They don't have any wireless functionality built-in though as they are meant for studio recording.

Hi @kingsfan, I'm following up on our previous discussion. I have loudness hyperacusis and moderate noxacusis. My tinnitus tends to flare up when I listen to anything on a phone speaker, which is unfortunately something I do often for work, especially on Zoom calls.

Are you still using the Sonos Roam? I see there's a newer version now, the Roam 2. Did you experience hyperacusis that would flare up from digital audio? I'll wait to hear back from you before deciding to purchase it for my work calls.

Thanks!

 

[Mal58]

"What I do need is:

• High quality to reduce the impact on my ears as much as possible
• Bluetooth functionality ideally - primarily they will be used to connect to a work laptop for MS Teams calls, but I would like them to connect to my Amazon Firestick to see if it is possible to listen to the TV, and also my phone for WhatsApp calls
• The speaker needs to be a speakerphone - so that it has a built in microphone that can be used for calls, as I need to keep the laptops in a different room due to the whirring aggravating my tinnitus"

1) KEF LSX are my main TV speakers. These usually get picked out in reviews as the highest quality bluetooth speakers <$1000. But I have to use them carefully - low volumes and short (usually 20 mins, maybe stretch to an hour on a good day...) Things have got worse recently - today I couldn't bear listening to a Beethoven violin sonata and switched off after 10 minutes (a severe test admittedy - all that high pitched rage against wonky ears!)

2) I have an Amazon Echo 4th Gen in the kitchen that I find quite bearable listening to David Vine and his soft rock music picks while making lunch. Which? magazine gave it higher marks than the Amazon Echo Studio a few years ago and picked it out as their best buy - though looking at the reviews recently it's been knocked off top spot by several others. Which? magazine compares about 140 Bluetooth speakers (!) and is definitely worth checking out for some more suggestions to sample.

3) I have an Amazon Firestick and found it sounded awful feeding a Bluetooth 3 signal to my KEFs - I use the KEFs optical input. Thought, today I'd try upgrading to an Amazon Firestick 4K Max which uses Bluetooth 5 - I recently discovered the radio sound is good from my Amazon Fire Tablet 8 - This Tablet might work as a speaker phone in combination with KEFs (or other Bluetooth speakers...)

4) The MS Teams and WhatsApp requirements are specialised! *Maybe* the Fire tablet could handle those for the speaker as well - though it is limited to what's in the Kindle store (unless you are happy to waste a few hours in techie tinkering - check out "sideloading android apps".) If you prefer/need to throw money at the problem, check out Android & Mac tablets (Which? again has good reviews of these...)

P.S. The KEF LSX aren't better impact wise than my Amazon Echo, they might be a bit worse, although they do sound better. High quality might mean a greater range of sound hitting your ears which (I guess) might not be good for Tinnitus. Maybe explore DSP - both the KEFs and Amazon Echo do offer some limited DSP whereby you can turn down the treble a bit - explore this forum and "audio science forum" for more advanced approaches if you think DSP would help!

 

[Mister Muso]

For those using a PC as their sound source, I can recommend the PEACE Equaliser, a 13-band graphic equaliser with optional effects that is almost inifitely configurable according to your needs. You can save multiple sound profiles, whether for speech, music etc., and it's completely free to use.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/peace-equalizer-apo-extension/

 

[BeepBeep]

EQ to cut treble is my main advice.