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Good monitors against ear fatigue/tinnitus?
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Vonoom
Vonoom
Started Topics :
14
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274
Posted : Jan 19, 2011 01:09:58
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Hey guys,
I've been suffering from tinnitus for a good 8-9 months now, and I feel that it affects my 'quality time' in the studio as my ears now seem to get fatigued much faster. I suspect that my current monitors, Tapco S8, are simply too large for my setup and the 8" bass is doing my ears in, slowly but surely. I don't really have the possibility of treating the current room I'm in, but I should hopefully be moving soon and (fingers crossed!) get a dedicated studio room which I would then treat.
So my question is, although it's bound to be subjective, do you guys know of any good monitors (preferably below the 1000 euro mark) that are easy on the ears? I will most likely wait and see how my current monitors sound in a treated room, but I like to be well prepared 
Any suggestions?
  www.soundcloud.com/vonoom | www.vonoom.bandcamp.com | www.facebook.com/vonoom | www.flikflakfamily.com |
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willsanquil
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
93
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2822
Posted : Jan 19, 2011 02:12
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just for comparitive purposes, my tapco S8s (while yes, probably too large for my room, too) don't strain my ears
sucks :\ gl with new monitors, I would be interested to 'hear' the difference once you get some new ones.
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch...you must first invent the universe
www.soundcloud.com/tasp
www.soundcloud.com/kinematic-records |
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Jan 19, 2011 02:43
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dynaudio bm6a are the most easy on the ears i used, the soft dome tweeter is smooth but maybe lack a bit of resolution , check the bm5a i guess they share the same sound.
focal don t tired much too.
it can be cause of your room acoustic, a big peak will tired a lot your ears |
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klippel
Stereofeld
Started Topics :
91
Posts :
1153
Posted : Jan 19, 2011 09:36
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hey mate,
i do suffer from tinnitus as well. while on moderate levels sub frequencies become annoying after a while in high levels it´s the highs that are painfull for me.
a friend of mine uses the tapco s8 and they are so bass heavy i can´t stand them for a long time. and his room acoustic is not too bad at all.
i do have dynaudio focus 110 which are soft sounding but also quite heavy on the bass. however, they are an open cabinet design and i could fill the opening with foam in order to bring down the unwanted overly loud low freqs. now they sound much much cleaner and don´t fatigue my ears anymore. you have to get used to the sound another time but its so worth it!
as far as i recall it the s8 are also open cabinet. try to fill that with foam or a pair of socks will do ;-)
after all its subjective and i do not know about your speficic tinnitus and if its the lows tha are painfull for you like it is for me.. for me this helped a lot!
http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/stereofeld-frequenzwechsel
"I've always been a believer in musical repetition to draw in the listener and make the music hypnotic. Another thing I believe in is repetition." Alan Parsons |
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Vonoom
Vonoom
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
274
Posted : Jan 19, 2011 14:16
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Thanks for the replies guys
Yea I suspect that the main culprit may be my untreated room, but, as Klippel says, the Tapco's are a bit bass heavy. I'll try stuffing them with some cloth and see how that affects things...
Although it is typically higher pitched sounds that scratch at my tinnitus, like a passing train or something, I do think it's the lows that affect me after a long studio session as I don't get the same sharp irritating sensation that I get from the highs but one that slowly increases. Hmm, I'll try and play around with the parameters a bit and see how it goes. But I do think a change of monitors will be necessary. I will also be moving from a basement in a house to an apartment, so getting some less bass-heavy speakers might be to my advantage anyway 
If anyone else has suggestions I'd be happy to hear them! I will of course try and test the new monitors before I buy them, but I reckon I would need to bring them home as it only occurs after a little while in the sweet spot...
Willsanquil, do you find the tapco's bass-heavy?
www.soundcloud.com/vonoom | www.vonoom.bandcamp.com | www.facebook.com/vonoom | www.flikflakfamily.com |
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porko rosso
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
113
Posted : Jan 19, 2011 18:45
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Quote:
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it can be cause of your room acoustic, a big peak will tired a lot your ears
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this + loud volumes
im sorry to tell but you better have a break for at least couple of months and youll feel much better
had the same problem and good monitors and didnt touch anything for 7 months! till now, ive made a small home studio and start mixing again, gonna take it easy this time, plus the better environment helps mixing quieter and feel more comfortable
better stop now from mixing cause things will get worse, spend all your time and creation to make your place if things go well as you said, no need to push yourself too much, youll make your ears more sensitive and will cause pain and nerves outside the studio as well, no need to
cheers |
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Vonoom
Vonoom
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
274
Posted : Jan 19, 2011 21:59
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Yea I try to keep the volume down as much as possible, although sometimes I do perhaps get a bit carried away. My tinnitus started due to some work-related noise, although a decade of parties and dj'ing is probably the main culprit...
I do try to take some prolonged breaks from the studio, lately a music-block has helped a bit, although I despise it hehe... When I do sit for longer periods I try and take regular breaks, although if you're in the zone, it's hard to get up and leave it 
I'm afraid that my tinnitus is here to stay, but that being said, I still have hope that it will get better. I take much better care of my ears now so I can try to save what's left... I now always carry some quality earplugs in a little box attached to my key chain, well recommended!
There does seem to be a glimmer of hope for those of us with the relentless whine in our ears! Check this article out: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gWyvKZhqGLDUEEKZ_EkiGtwvQ_Iw?docId=N0115981294841471875A
Go go human trials! 
www.soundcloud.com/vonoom | www.vonoom.bandcamp.com | www.facebook.com/vonoom | www.flikflakfamily.com |
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willsanquil
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
93
Posts :
2822
Posted : Jan 19, 2011 23:24
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vonoom, I wouldn't feel qualified to say as they are the only monitors I have used o.O
I like them though! even if they are probably too big for the 12x12 foot room (god damn square!) I have them in.
btw when you say something is open cabinet...and you are stuffing stuff in them..is that the open part in the back? confused as to where else you would stuff..
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch...you must first invent the universe
www.soundcloud.com/tasp
www.soundcloud.com/kinematic-records |
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vipal
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
123
Posts :
1397
Posted : Jan 20, 2011 04:29
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using adam s1a and no need there to go into high volumes for producing. probably many other monitors can do the same. maybe focus on monitors that dont need big volume. and wear those earprotectors when you go into big parties. really worth the money. |
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monno
Grapes Of Wrath
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
454
Posted : Jan 20, 2011 14:32
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Vonoom
Vonoom
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
274
Posted : Jan 20, 2011 15:15
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@ Will
Fair enough, they're also the only monitors that I've owned, although I've heard several others at friends' places... I have a hard time judging the difference though, unless they're side by side and I can swap between them. But yea, so far I've been pretty happy with them too, despite their imposing size
And yea, it's the slots in the back that are being stuffed, which, by the way, I'm trying out at the moment. It has definitely reduced the bass, but I haven't had a proper session yet, so can't say if it's improved the situation yet...
Yea I'm trying to produce at as low volume as possible. My most recent project was reducing the noise of my pc so I don't have to overpower that. A new CPU cooler helped a lot, although it still hums a bit down there, nothing serious though.
@ Monno
Yea accupuncture might not be a bad idea! I've had it in the past for some immune problems, and that helped a lot. Something to look into. As for parties I've been limiting it to the one's I help organize, so it's about one party every 3 months or so, which isn't too bad. I've also invested in custom made earplugs which I can definitely recommend to all of you! They're really worth the money!
Thanks for all the tips guys 
www.soundcloud.com/vonoom | www.vonoom.bandcamp.com | www.facebook.com/vonoom | www.flikflakfamily.com |
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Mike A
Subra
Started Topics :
185
Posts :
3954
Posted : Jan 21, 2011 12:05
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Vonoom:
A. keep the volume down.
B. ALWAYS use earplugs in parties.
C. Drop the acupucture. If you got physical damage in your ears, stabbing yourself in random places will not heal it.
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monno
Grapes Of Wrath
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
454
Posted : Jan 21, 2011 13:46
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Vonoom
Vonoom
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
274
Posted : Jan 21, 2011 13:48
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Mike: A - Check!, B - Check! C - we'll see
As mentioned, I've had accupuncture in the past with great results, whether that's due to a placebo effect or not is essentially irrelevant as it's the result that counts, not the method by which I got there It's definitely something I will keep in mind. And good point Monno, at least we get something back from all of our taxes, eh?
www.soundcloud.com/vonoom | www.vonoom.bandcamp.com | www.facebook.com/vonoom | www.flikflakfamily.com |
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Mike A
Subra
Started Topics :
185
Posts :
3954
Posted : Jan 21, 2011 13:58
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@monno&vonoom
This is called placebo effect. And since the placebo effect is real and it happens, the government will pay for this.
Whether or not it has real medical value, this is questionable.
Anyway, keep it music and not medicine.
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