My apologies for being a bit off topic.
Dave R (DSJR)
I read most of what you write here Dave and I read here that you suffer from tinnitus.
I don’t know you from Adam really but I do empathise. It can be really unpleasant in its severer forms and for someone such as you who I imagine not only loves his Hi Fi but also music, it can be enormously frustrating.
I’ve lived with it for a great many years (we are probably of similar age) I’m fortunate in that mine is a single continuous very high frequency tone; and it comes and goes in intensity. I was exposed to a considerable amount of jet engine noise when I worked in avionic communications and that it seems was enough for my ears.
I realize its pointless pointing this out on a Hi Fi forum but the likelihood of many contributors here getting tinnitus in their later years is well above average, currently 1 in 5 males over 50 (non audiophiles) and rumored to be 3 in 5 for those that listen to electronically reproduced music regularly.
The truth is while audio reproduction is a wonderful hobby, it’s also likely to be damaging to your hearing. Headphones’ listening it seems has the greatest potential for permanent hearing damage as surveys suggest that many listen at decibel levels above 85db for extended periods.
I would suggest that everyone who listens to music through a Hi Fi establishes just what 85db sounds like. It really isn’t very loud. Then think about how long you listen at that volume or above.
Single spur balanced Mains. Self built music server with 3 seperate linear PSU, Intel i5, 16 GB RAM no hard drive (various Linux OS). Benchmark Dac2 HGC, single ended XLR interconnects/Belkin cable. Exposure 21RC Pre, Super 18 Power (recap & modified). Modded World Audio HD83 HP amp. Hand built Monitors with external crossovers , Volt 250 bass & ABR, Scanspeak 13M8621 Mid & Scanspeak D2905/9300 Hi. HD595 & Beyer 880 (600 ohm) cans.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.
-Bertrand Russel
John.