[sniffer66]

I have a modest 7.1 setup in my cinema room. I had previously used the Audyssey setup in my Denon amp to setup my Kef surrounds and all was fine.

Unfortunately since buying my kit I have started suffering from Menieres disease and have associated hearing loss and tinnitus in my left ear. Its probbaly at around 30% of the hearing ability in my right. Because of this I have trouble identifying where a sound source is originating from and have trouble hearing anything on the left side unless its quite loud. I also have better hearing levels at differing frequencies
I've always enjoyed the benefits of full surround sound so want to try to compensate for the lack of hearing on my left.

Does anyone know if I can do this accurately using Audyssey or a sound meter or should i just try and bump up the levels on all my left side speakers. If I moved the Audyssey setup mike way to the right would this mean the amp would possibly compensate? I have a hearing aid but its pretty useless because of my tinnitus. Headphones are also a bit of a no-no because of my wife and also because I'd rather not go back to stereo having spent money on speakers.

Thanks

[ARNOLD AKIEN]

Originally Posted by sniffer66

I have a modest 7.1 setup in my cinema room. I had previously used the Audyssey setup in my Denon amp to setup my Kef surrounds and all was fine.

Unfortunately since buying my kit I have started suffering from Menieres disease and have associated hearing loss and tinnitus in my left ear. Its probably at around 30% of the hearing ability in my right. Because of this I have trouble identifying where a sound source is originating from and have trouble hearing anything on the left side unless its quite loud. I also have better hearing levels at differing frequencies
I've always enjoyed the benefits of full surround sound so want to try to compensate for the lack of hearing on my left.

Does anyone know if I can do this accurately using Audyssey or a sound meter or should i just try and bump up the levels on all my left side speakers. If I moved the Audyssey setup mike way to the right would this mean the amp would possibly compensate? I have a hearing aid but its pretty useless because of my tinnitus. Headphones are also a bit of a no-no because of my wife and also because I'd rather not go back to stereo having spent money on speakers.

Thanks

Hi sniffer66 ,


An appalling situation to be faced with at your age.

Of course I did what most people would do after reading of your condition and did a rapid web search for further information . On the basis of what I've read it would appear that the condition is progressive and can vary in intensity from day to day .I have a Denon 2808 Receiver and I know how tricky it can be to do a full Audyssy set up with minimal equipment and that was without being afflicted with your disability.


When I bought my B and W Speaker system a year ago the man who set up the new speakers used the Microphone that had been supplied with the 2808 Receiver but employed his own microphone stand whose adjustable arm made the task of doing the various readings ... with the mike in just the Right position .. much easier and which provided a much better and more accurate result for my room and for my own viewing and listening position.

Your own situation is much more complex and barring the appearance on the forums - and upon your thread - of a specialist who has experience of your condition I consider that your best prospect for immediate and authoritative advice would be to contact Denon who I don't doubt will have encountered this problem.


Contact point is here .....


DENON UK | Home Audio Components


I try to hang onto those few virtues that I do still posses and one of those is not taking things for granted ... and so I daren't take the risk that you might not have come upon this, American, site which looks useful and which may have intelligence on the application of more advanced technologies for hearing augmentation than are presently available over here ..


Meniere's Disease Information Center -- Hearing Technology



" October 21, 2005 -- One of the weaknesses of MenieresInfo.com has long been a lack of information about hearing technology. Hearing impairment caused by Meniere's Disease and possible hearing assistance through hearing aids, cochlear implants, and the like, are, in our opinion, widely underreported aspects of Meniere's Disease. We have added this Hearing Technology Page, on which we direct visitors to Meniere's Disease patient David Copithorne's excellent coverage of this subject at his website "


AV equipment and its adjustment in your situation is likely to be a problem that has been raised on their blog which does have a search facility ...


MenieresInfo.com Blog - http://www.menieresinfo.com/blog



Denon would be your best bet for advice on adjusting and adapting their gear to your specific problem, but frankly it does seem to me that your best option may well be correction with specialized hearing aids and that selectively boosting the sound either manually or with Audyssey just wont produce the effect that you want even if you were the only member of the audience.

It does seem to me that the most effective correction would be that which is applied directly to your own ears in the form of specialized hearing aids.


Best Wishes, and regrets that I can't be more useful,


Arnold.

[sniffer66]

Arnold. Apologies for the brief reply I'm at work and just found your reply. Thanks a lot for taking the time to post such a comprehensive response, its much appreciated. I'll make time to digest it properly when I get home later

Stuart