Here's how I understand my circumstances. I'm told that, despite my advanced age, my hearing is still quite good, except for damage at 8000 hz's in my left ear and that this is likely responsible for the tinnitus, the ringing I experience. I have an EC Zana Deux tube headphone amp and especially when paired with my old Mac Mr67 tuner, the resolution is exceptionally high, so much so that the only way I can listen is if I turn the volume way, way down. If I listen to my Denon tuner, via my headphone amp, which doesn't have the same high res, I can listen at higher volume. My theory is that my tinnitus is exacerbated whenever the 8k hz bell is rung and when the resolution is higher, there's more detail, or more sonic information ringing the bell, whereas if the volume is higher, the 8k hz bell is struck, not more often, but with greater intensity. Ok, so I'm using my imagination here, don't actually know how it all works, but my theory fits with my experience.
The issue isn't with Ayre gear, per se, but likely with the increased resolution provided by the Kx5-Twenty, more information knocking around the 8k hz bell. The greater transparency provides more sonic information and the extension, or intensity, is also increased and this could be exacerbating my tinnitus; but, as I explained, I'm just coming out of a nasty head cold and so too soon to tell.
And, indeed, the Kx5-Twenty is opening up quite nicely as its breaking in, just as explained here.
Thank you all!
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