Perfect hearing was never the secret to loving music anyway.
Time changes many things, including how we hear music. For passionate audiophiles, especially those over 60, this natural evolution can feel like losing touch with a lifelong friend.
Yet, the story doesn’t end there.
How Hearing Loss Changes the Way We Listen
Our hearing changes as we get older.
You know that feeling when you’re in a crowded restaurant and can’t quite catch what your friend is saying? Or when you realize you’ve been turning up the TV volume more than usual? That’s often the first sign of sensorineural hearing loss.
It’s especially common in men over 60, which we can say is a huge part of the audiophile demographic.
Inside our inner ears, thousands of tiny hair cells convert sound waves into signals our brain can understand. These delicate cells can get damaged or die from repeated exposure to loud sounds, certain medications, or simply aging itself.
Unfortunately, unlike skin cells or other tissues, these hair cells don’t regenerate. That’s why, as we age, we tend to develop permanent changes in how we process sound, particularly higher frequencies above 8,000Hz.
For audiophiles, losing those high frequencies can be especially frustrating as it means losing the ‘sparkle’ of the music.
I’ve talked to many audiophiles who found this so frustrating that they nearly gave up on their hobby altogether.
Yet, the truth is, hearing differently doesn’t mean you have to love music any less.
People often forget that being an audiophile is never just about hearing every frequency perfectly. It’s about feeling the music, interpreting it, and forming a deep connection with it.
You don’t have to hear everything to achieve that.
Take the story of chef Grant Achatz, for example. When cancer treatment took away his sense of taste, everyone thought his cooking career was over.
But instead of giving up, he used his years of experience and deep understanding of flavors to keep creating amazing dishes. He couldn’t taste the food the same way anymore, but his knowledge and passion helped him find new ways to create magic in the kitchen.
If Achatz could turn a challenge into an opportunity, audiophiles can do the same.
Your hearing might change, but that connection to music, the way it moves you, brings back memories and makes you feel alive, stays strong as ever.
Adapting and Thriving as an Aging Audiophile
Hearing changes doesn’t mean you have to give up on music. If anything, they just mean you’ll have to find new ways to enjoy your music.
The good news is modern hearing aids have come a long way from the clunky devices your grandparents might have worn.
Today’s versions feel more like having a built-in EQ in your ear. They can be fine-tuned to bring back those specific frequencies you’re missing, and some even have special music settings.
Adapting also means finding new ways to enjoy music.
Many of us are drawn to systems that bring out clarity and transparency. At one point, or even up to now, we’ve all been obsessed with discovering the ‘hidden details’ of each track. And that usually requires very clear high frequencies.
But, there is more to music than that.
For example, what thrilled you a decade ago might not give you the same emotional response today. This change reflects not just changing hearing but a deeper, more refined understanding of what makes music truly enjoyable.
In short, focus on what connects you emotionally to the music rather than chasing perfect sound.
Protecting your hearing as you age
Protecting the hearing you have left is just as important as adapting to changes. Small adjustments can go a long way:
- The “60/60 rule”: Keep the volume below 60% and give your ears a break after 60 minutes of listening. Your ears will thank you.
- Use high-fidelity earplugs at concerts: You’ll still hear the music clearly but without risking further damage. (Bonus: they block out that one person yelling offbeat “WOO!” every 30 seconds.)
- Invest in protective gear for noisy environments: If you’re around loud machinery or other constant noise, over-the-ear defenders can make a world of difference.
Noise-canceling headphones are another incredible tool. With these, you won’t have to keep turning up the volume to drown out the noise. Plus, you can pair them with an equalizer, and you can tweak the sound profile to suit your hearing.
Lost a bit of high-frequency sparkle? Boost it back. Want to crank up the bass for some added punch? Go for it.
They may not be something you’d consider when you’re focused on high-end ‘audiophile-grade’ headphones. But, they’re worth investing in especially when you’re just listening casually.
Celebrating the Hobby at Any Age
Being an audiophile is a lifelong journey that grows richer with time. While great equipment matters, the real reward comes from how music shapes your life.
For example, you can become a mentor for the new generation.
Imagine weekends helping friends set up their first turntable, teaching them how to clean vinyl properly, or showing them why speaker placement transforms sound quality.
Nothing beats seeing someone’s reaction when they first hear what their favorite album sounds like through a proper setup.
Planning ahead makes a big difference.
Many listeners in their 50s and 60s now consider future hearing changes when upgrading their systems. They choose components that offer more adjustment flexibility, like preamps with sophisticated tone controls or speakers known for clarity in the midrange where speech intelligibility matters most.
Working with an audiologist should also become part of the hobby.
Regular hearing checkups help you understand exactly which frequencies need attention, making it easier to adjust your system accordingly. Some audiologists even specialize in helping audiophiles by offering guidance on both hearing protection and system optimization.
These changes open up new ways to appreciate music.
Basically, it’s not just about making up for what’s changed. Instead, it’s more about growing into sort of like a new phase in the hobby.
At the end of the day or at some point, we need to understand that our hearing isn’t immortal. And, since most of us have been overworking our ears just to listen to the details of the tracks and enjoy our hobby, our ears are very susceptible to damage over time.
That’s something we have to live with, accept, and overcome.
Forget chasing perfection and focus on the emotional core of the music (a.k.a. that intangible thing that makes a song yours). These remind us why we love music in the first place and keep us connected to it in ways that matter most, no matter how our hearing evolves.
Old folks like me may not be able to hear the highest frequencies anymore, but we can still hear pitch, distortion, soundstage, dynamic range, phase anomalies, and peaky response. We can still tell what sounds artificial, and what sounds real. Our opinions are still valid; don’t rule us out, yet.