Part of this is coming from something that happened with my hearing over the past several months...  my right ear had fluid (snot) in the inner ear that would come and go, but just touch the ear drum enough to start damping out the 5K and up stuff by about 2 dB or so.  At night it would get worse when sleeping.  It also feels like something is crawling in your ear like that Star Trek movie from time to time.  I finally went to the doctor and had them look at it to see if there was an infection and there was not.  No problems that they could detect.  Started talking to me about a possible hearing aid.

Instead I have spent the past 2 weeks working on my lungs to lessen the issue and I can now hear perfectly in that ear again.  I'm telling you this story because it is almost impossible to tell you have one ear that is a couple dB down in the top end because your brain is adjusting for it on the fly.  You actually have to test it.  Crumpled paper is an excellent test.  Should sound the same crumpled in front of each ear.  

Anyway, I choose to take a holistic approach to correcting the problem.  I could have easily been given drugs to lessen the snot and become a repeat customer while the problem never really goes away and then get talked into a hearing aid.

So it is a real thrill, as you might imagine, to be able to hear without the veil on the "right channel" that is constantly changing from hour to hour but never really completely going away.  I believe the ear becomes more sensitive during that time and after it is fixed you get super hearing for awhile until it adjusts to the new norm.

Steve

That sounds like what happens to me when fairly advanced listening fatigue sneaks up on me... thinking the ear canal gets inflamed and puts out some liquid to help protect itself. I am pretty sure when this happens for me is when the bass is a little thick/undefined, probably especially deeper bass. I have to get sort of intellectual about it because it can sound pretty good, maybe a little heavy handed, but pretty complete and real, and still be beating me up. Usually happens to only one ear too, and not necessarily the same one. Whatever the cause, I know the feeling of crazy super hearing... when things heal. If I am doing a lot of experimenting, I can even have super hearing with minor fatigue in place... damped a little, but somehow still "hearing" pretty nuanced stuff. Always makes me wonder about how much is the ear, and how much are other vibrations/perceptions that we equate with "hearing."

Anyway, glad you are well and hearing the big beauty!

JBzen- you absolutely should! We are really rocking and rolling in the listening room these days! ... and I LOVE meeting our customers face to face, especially forum members!