Could it be my ears or could there be something else?

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

Well, been playing with my Rainbow SLC's a bit lately. And it seems like the tweeters have become more shriller and somewhat more distorted then they use to be, which was loud and crisp and clear.

I was wondering if this might just be my ears or if there may really be some sort of deterioration taking place. Ofcourse I think I do have a curse of being satisfied with my sound system one day and then thinking it doesn't sound really well the next but this set use to sound really nice when I first ran and installed them.

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[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Because you're relying on your perception to judge it in the first place, that's just a problem that you have to deal with. Your perceptions change constantly.

 

[Etac 10+ year member]

yeah its probaly just one of those days

some days my radio sounds like crap to me and i want all new equipment and on some days it sounds amazing

/shrug

be happy - satisfaction is the end of desire //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

Because you're relying on your perception to judge it in the first place, that's just a problem that you have to deal with. Your perceptions change constantly.

Well, since it is bought, installed, and it performs to satisfy on the basis of my perception why else would I attempt to measure its performance based on anything else?

The simple question is there a deterioration rate for loudspeakers played at continuous loud volumes that I do not know about and at which rate do they decrease in clarity and quality? And would this more-so be based on that or simply my ever-changing perception.

Honestly in all totality I was looking to see if there were any people who experience the same curse which has seem to befallen me.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

If you changed the system every time your perception shifted, you'd swap out gear every time you got in the car. It could simply be that you've gotten used to the sound or that your perceptions have shifted slightly. Not likely that the speakers are degraded.

 

[Racerx250 10+ year member]

Good question. I wondered that before. I'll have to check back on this thread.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Its called the car audio addiction, never ends!

I use to have a sticker on the back of one of my many, many cars that said "Never satisfied!" Talk about an ego trip, lol! Well was more so, because I had so many cars in my day and would change a system out 10 times in just one car. I put me so far in debt at one time in my life I had to go bankrupt. Sucks, but you live and you learn........kinda! That was years ago and I am still addicted to car audio, but have tamed on the whole car thing. I have had the same car for 3 years now, which may be a record for me. I will ponder that later, lol!

I did just try to sell my system, which the majority of it I did and try to get used to stock in my car again...............and nope, couldn't do it! Just spent 600 dollars in 2 decks (one was for the wife), componets and some other odd ball stuff. Now I am itching to get another sub, amp and battery.............it never ends!

Trust me, you are not the only one bud.

 

[endofdays89 5,000+ posts]

Well, been playing with my Rainbow SLC's a bit lately. And it seems like the tweeters have become more shriller and somewhat more distorted then they use to be, which was loud and crisp and clear.
I was wondering if this might just be my ears or if there may really be some sort of deterioration taking place. Ofcourse I think I do have a curse of being satisfied with my sound system one day and then thinking it doesn't sound really well the next but this set use to sound really nice when I first ran and installed them.

i've noticed that too. It could just be your mind but it also could be your ears? Try clearing out your ears by swallowing really hard or something and stuff will probably sound more clear. But its most likely your mind telling you its not satisfied with whatever it is you got. It could also be the way you feel that day. I know somedays when i feel really good and really want to listen to some music really loud it seems to sound more clear. But thats just me, but i think its more common then most of us may realize.

 

[Tehgregzor 10+ year member]

Try clearing out your ears by swallowing really hard

Sounds like advice your stepdad gave you....dare i ask..did he attempt to breast feed you too?

 

[Rashaddd 5,000+ posts]

for those of you who've been doing this a long time...do you ever get loud enough that you stay completely satisfied with it for idk say at least 6 months? Everytime I upgrade I'm happy as hell and glad its louder, and feel like I'll finally be satisfied for a while, and then two weeks later it starts to sound not so loud again...hearing loss ftl...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[endofdays89 5,000+ posts]

for those of you who've been doing this a long time...do you ever get loud enough that you stay completely satisfied with it for idk say at least 6 months? Everytime I upgrade I'm happy as hell and glad its louder, and feel like I'll finally be satisfied for a while, and then two weeks later it starts to sound not so loud again...hearing loss ftl...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

i agree. And by the way, the reason i said to clear your ears is because the sound at high levels will make your ears go into protect mode where they try to defend against the high volumes. Think about it.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

I've left systems untouched for several years. I'm not that fickle. The new system I'm getting ready to do will be my first totally new build with all new gear in almost 5 years. My last car had almost all the same components in it for the entire time I owned it. Had different subs for about 2 months. Swapped out the mids about a year ago. Other than that I messed with the install, mostly appearance related stuff, a little bit but the bulk of the system was almost unchanged.

I also don't listen to my system that loud very much. The stock stereo, recently reinstalled to sell the car, is loud enough for me it just sounds bad.

 

[tcguy85 10+ year member]

does it sound better at night?

thats a whole other debate. lol

 

[headless 10+ year member]

I swapped out components on a steady basis until I got my power line CS set installed. Then the desire to replace my front stage dissapeared permanently //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif Though now my sub is a bit lean compared to the fronts...

 

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

How are those power line comps? Out of curiosity.

If I upgraded from my SLC, it would probably be to them.