Headphones for the partially deaf

I've had an old Philips headphone that had independant volume dials on each earpiece, but that was 15years ago.

But why do you think that the balance dial on the amp wouldn't work?

Effectively doing the same thing. If you want headphones with independent controls you will probably have to go vintage as I'm not aware of any current models with this facility.

Don't know how hifi they'll be but they exist: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mono-Stereo-Headphones-Independant-Volume-Controls-Adjustable-Headband-100-616-/221048268548?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones&hash=item337780e704#ht_867wt_1037

And these Senns should be better: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sennheiser-HD-65-TV-Closed-Dynamic-TV-Headphones-with-Independent-Volume-Control-/120903860513?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones&hash=item1c266e8121#ht_2839wt_1270

Check out eBay for vintage headphones such as the Sony DR S4 and S5 presently up for sale.I have the DR 4 and % which do not have volume controls and they are both quality sounding.

Bear in mind when you buy vintage headphones it is more than likely they will only have the larger 6.35mm jack so you may need to get an adaptor. They are cheap and eBay as well.

Many thanks for suggestions and links to Ebay. The HD 65 is billed as being for TV, so I wonder if it's all that brilliant for music. Also, I just discovered Sennheiser’s HZR62 stereo volume control, apparently with a separate slider volume control for each channel.
 
As you’ll have gathered, I’m no expert. With loudspeakers, I’ve never heard a strong stereo effect (even with hearing aid on one side), so I've not paid much attention to balance. But I always thought balance was different from volume: i.e. shifting the apparent microphone position without changing the volume for the listener. If the use of balance really does shift volume from one side to the other, then maybe I’m worrying unduly!

Plan is to try regular headphones and, if not satisfactory, add an HZR62. Thanks to all.

Good luck, let us know how you get on 

Here’s my solution, which I hope may be of interest to partially deaf people who enjoy their hi-fi (and I suspect there must be quite a lot of them around).

I bought Sennheiser HD 215 headphones on the basis that it looked like a good product that doesn’t quite break the bank (just under £60). I was not disappointed.

But I soon found that adjusting the stereo balance to boost the hearing in my deaf left ear doesn’t work: there just isn’t enough travel on the knob to make any difference.

So I added a Sennheiser HZR 62 stereo volume control, which adjusts the volume to each ear independently. To install, just plug it in to the amp, and plug the headphones into it. It comes with a 3.5mm to 6.3mm converter, although the Sennheiser web page doesn't mention that.

The result is about as good as I’m ever going to get; the stereo may not be as good as for someone with good hearing, but it’s not at all bad, and I can hear frequencies and instruments I never heard before. My deaf ear is set to max and my good ear to almost min on the HZR 62, and hopefully I can leave them at that setting permanently. Then turn the amp up quite high. (Vital not to put the headset on the wrong way round! Or switch to loudspeakers as well and blast the whole house; we’re not into loud music!)

The HZR 62 was expensive for what it is - £27 – but I’m glad I discovered it.

Hope I haven't bored you all, and that this will help some other deaf person.

You might want to check with a medical doctor and an audiologist before simply blasting high sound levels into a less sensitive ear.

Very good point about the doctor! I'll do that. Thanks.