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Causes of long term listening fatigue?

I like to listen to music continuously for hours mostly at low volume levels. For me therefore, it is important to have a setup that will not cause any listening fatigue (lf).

Now I am looking for a new speaker setup and I wonder whether people could comment on the following aspects:
1. is 5-ch more susceptible to lf than 2-ch?
2. are there quick tests so that one can determine whether a given speaker will tend to give lf? I ask this because in a shop it will be difficult to assess this due to lack of time and differences in acoustic environment.
3. Which speakers do you know in the price class $3k that do have lf problems and which ones can be recommended in this respect? (difficult question, I know).

Thanks for input.
Regards,
karman
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Experience has taught me that the problem is usually in the electronics, and NOT the speakers.
When I had some big Infinity speakers, and a Hafler DH110 from a kit, with a Carver amp. I was in heaven.
For some mysterious reason, I bought a gizmo laden Sony ES digital preamp.
My musical listening dropped off to zero.
After awhile I figured out that it was the Sony.
I bought a Counterpoint pre. Heaven again, (when it was working...)
Finally I bought an Adcom. Not heaven, but good enough to listen too... and it is reliable.
I have a SCD777ES for digital, and a Audio Research PH-2 for vinyle playback.
Speakers... who cares. As long as they are reasonable, they do not create the fatigue problem... they only "pass it along" from the electronics.
Power conditioners also help ease the problem a bit. But what you need is the right electronics.
So the speakers, IMO, are NOT the problem.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Want to add that my statement was only in regard to "listener fatigue" and not the many other problems that can be associated with speakers.
Thanks
riffer
362 posts
 
IF there is the slightest degree of "brightness", I know something isn't going to work for me.
rlapporte
62 posts
 
Consider Vandersteens or similarly smooth speaker if in fact your speaker is lean or bright. If any component sounds very exciting upon first listen, it might be a problem over time. I also agree about electronics and will add cable problems as well. Watch out for ultra detailed sounding anything...it might lead to fatigue over time.
kurt_tank
1,188 posts
 
I pretty much agree with Elizabeth, especially since you stated that your preferences are for listening at low volume levels.

However, I will give you my opinion on speakers for low level listening, since you appear to be shopping for them at the moment. (This advice is worth every penny you are paying for it!)

I recommend planer type speakers for listening at low sound levels. These speakers seem to work better than standard dynamic speakers at lower sound levels. They seem to image and soundstage better, IMHO.

That being said I actually listen at loud sound levels and now use dynamic speakers. I used to have planer type speakers and they did seem to work better at lower sound levels. (Consequently, dynamic speakers seem to work better at loud sound levels.)

My opinions of course. You might want to do a search here and on audio asylum for speakers that excel at low volume levels.

Good Luck!
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