Listening Fatigue

[admin_exported]

I have recently borrowed a Music Fidelity A5 amp to compare with my K2. Initially I thought that it was much better, bigger soundstage, more, well controlled bass and greater separation. However... after a while fatigue starts to set in (not listening at extreme volumes).

Does anyone know what causes listening fatigue?

Thanks

 

[SteveR750]

Not even sure what you mean by listening fatigue? is it a physical or mental symptom?

 

[ear]

The more detailed the sound , more prone to listening fatigue.more bass less treble is minus prone to it.but with any system you can get listening fatigue.just means your brain needs a rest from sound.

 

[Anonymous]

SteveR750:Not even sure what you mean by listening fatigue? is it a physical or mental symptom?

It is physical, you just want to turn the volume further down. My ears actually became sore after listening for a couple of hours.

You must have a well balance system.

 

[Anonymous]

ear:The more detailed the sound , more prone to listening fatigue.more bass less treble is minus prone to it.but with any system you can get listening fatigue.just means your brain needs a rest from sound.

The A5 is certainly producing more bass, that could well be the problem. I have some rega r3's in the loft, I may give these a try tonight.

 

[chebby]

I guess I am not playing anywhere near the volumes you enjoy. I sometimes start the day at around 5:30am (Radio 4 on quietly) and have peak volumes from around 11am - 3pm (guaranteed no neighbours) and start to ramp the volumes down a bit between when the wife comes in at 6pm until the telly (inevitably) goes on around 9:30pm after supper.

So yes, it is not unusual for me to be listening for up to 16 hours at diffferent volumes to everything from jazz, classical, rock, pop, spoken word, Radio 4, Radio 7, Radio 3, itunes, CDs, iPlayer etc. at distances between 4 feet - at my desk - and 9 feet in the armchair. (I work from home mostly).

I simply could not have a system that induced 'fatigue' or it would be out of the the next day! (Ebay anyway.)

 

[chebby]

Bert Puttocks:I have some rega r3's in the loft...

R3's In the loft?

Well there's your problem!

You are straining too hard to hear them from up there.

 

[Kevin Stephens]

Are you relaxing enjoying your music? Or are you straining to analyse the differences between the two amps?

 

[Anonymous]

last time I had to strain, it was resolved by taking some Turbo lax.

Seriously though, just sat back in a comfy chair with a nice glass of wine playing tracks I was familiar with.

I will have another listen over the weekend, and maybe hook the rega's up (removing them from the loft first).

 

[idc]

I have always associated a forward, bright sound with fatigue, so a tinny little radio, or the rubbish cheap micro at work annoy after a while. Listening to analyse is more tiring than listening whilst doing something else as concentrating is hard over time.

 

[Anonymous]

The type of music being listened to can also play a part. For instance, I can listen to vocals or classical far longer than I can with rock.

 

[True Blue]

Rega R3's in the loft?? breath.......... I could give them a loving homeb

 

[RCduck7]

Get a different amp or try it with some laid back speakers.

Try Dynaudio.

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed. The R3s are very good speakers but they're quite well lit in the treble. So is the MF A5. Together I can easily see why there's listener fatigue, too much light!

 

[chebby]

igglebert:Agreed. The R3s are very good speakers but they're quite well lit in the treble. So is the MF A5. Together I can easily see why there's listener fatigue, too much light!

The OP's Rega R3's are in his loft.

The fatigue is coming from the PMC GB1i's and the MF A5

 

[Anonymous]

Ooh, beg your pardon. Too much wine. Well, the A5 is still not an easy going amp and has a fairly forward balance. Just my experience of it.

 

[JoelSim]

chebby:
igglebert:Agreed. The R3s are very good speakers but they're quite well lit in the treble. So is the MF A5. Together I can easily see why there's listener fatigue, too much light!

The OP's Rega R3's are in his loft.

The fatigue is coming from the PMC GB1i's and the MF A5

ÿ

And the laptop, squeezebox and DAC I would imagineÿ

 

[chebby]

JoelSim:chebby:
igglebert:Agreed. The R3s are very good speakers but they're quite well lit in the treble. So is the MF A5. Together I can easily see why there's listener fatigue, too much light!

The OP's Rega R3's are in his loft.

The fatigue is coming from the PMC GB1i's and the MF A5

And the laptop, squeezebox and DAC I would imagine

Given that the OP's DacMagic and your CD192 are both using the very same Wolfson WM8740 DACs to convert and upsample you mean?

Unlikely. My experience of Arcam CDPs and the CA Dacmagic are that they are both a little warm if anything.

[I'll get my coat...]

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:JoelSim:

And the laptop, squeezebox and DAC I would imagine

Given that the OP's DacMagic and your CD192 are both using the very same Wolfson WM8740 DACs to convert and upsample you mean?

Unlikely.

Ouch!

 

[basshound]

idc:Listening to analyse is more tiring than listening whilst doing something else as concentrating is hard over time.

I think this is very true and believe I`ve been analyzing rather than listening of late and need to relax more and let the music do its` magic. Any tips ( apart from alcohol or herbal cigarettes)

 

[plastic penguin]

I've commented a number of times on the forum - once you've had an extended listen, could you live with a particular sound? Do all the different components gel together and allow for longer listening sessions? For most of us it comes down, generally, to gut feeling.

 

[JoelSim]

AKL:chebby:JoelSim:
And the laptop, squeezebox and DAC I would imagine

Given that the OP'sÿ DacMagic and your CD192 are both using the very same Wolfson WM8740 DACs to convert and upsample you mean?

Unlikely.

Ouch!

I think there's rather more to it than the DACs that are used Chebby. You know that as well as I do.

ÿ

 

[matthewpiano]

Personally I get listening fatigue from music which lacks subtlety. If a CD is all on one level and there is no light and shade in the music it becomes very tiring.

 

[idc]

basshound:idc:Listening to analyse is more tiring than listening whilst doing something else as concentrating is hard over time. I think this is very true and believe I`ve been analyzing rather than listening of late and need to relax more and let the music do its` magic. Any tips ( apart from alcohol or herbal cigarettes)

The main thing I do is to do something else as well as listen. So I spend time on the internet, this forum and reading, which means I can stop if something sounds a bit 'oooo', but an album can also fly by and suddenly end, a bit like driving whilst relaxed and you get there without remembering the journey.

(P.S - I also like getting blootered, maroculous, slaughtered, pished, oot ma tiny little face and I give up wehn mi toping gowes winky

)

 

[Anonymous]

idc:
(P.S - I also like getting blootered, maroculous, slaughtered, pished, oot ma tiny little face and I give up wehn mi toping gowes winky

)

LOL...we're all the same really...