Are dynamics/attack/slam separate from frequency response?

[cactus_farmer]

Comparing 3 of my headphones, Focal Elex (well, Elear with Clear pads), Sennheiser HD650 and Grado SR325e... Even though the Elex is much more similar to the HD650 in terms of frequency response, when listening I am reminded much more of the Grado because of the overall aggression, punch, slam and kinetic properties of the headphone vs the HD650's smoother and more laid back presentation.

But this confused me because I always thought that warm = smooth and bright = aggressive.

Yet now I have heard a headphone I'd consider warm yet aggressive (Focal Elex) as well as one which I'd consider bright yet laid back (Shure SRH1840).

Is this because the qualities that make a headphone aggressive/punchy vs laid back/smooth are independent of frequency response? Or is it because there are micro-alterations in the frequency response that I'm not considering (e.g. a headphone is overall warm yet has a small elevation in the upper mids or somewhere else that make it slam hard)?

 

[descloud]

Unfortunately, I can't quite tell which measurement indicates great dynamics. I think attack/decay/transients can be seen from a square wave response graph (which Tyll explained here: https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/headphone-measurements-explained-square-wave-response-page-2).

Then a headphone that's aggressive/punchy is a combination of driver speed and elevations in the frequency response, particularly bass and treble.

For laid-back/smooth descriptors, it usually relates to lack of peaks in certain regions in the midrange/upper-midrange and treble regions. The peaks at either 6k, 7k or 9k gives more emphasis or "energy" in the treble frequencies, but can add unwanted qualities in the treble (i.e edginess or sharpness). I think headphones.com gives a good evaluation of the effect on tonality with a headphone's frequency response here: https://www.headphones.com/pages/how-frequency-response-impacts-sound-signature

I am not entirely certain about all I've mentioned above. I welcome others to correct me if my understanding of these terms are accurate or were misrepresented.

 

[Sefelt103]

I'm not a technical expert but as far as I know slam and punch is referring to the attack-decay-sustain characteristics of the headphone. Emphasised attack could be created by a headphone amplifier or by some design of the transducer. From what I've read Focal and Grado headphones have this character as opposed to Sennheiser's HD650 which has a relaxed sounding softer attack. As to how this relates to the FR, I would say it's independent so you could have a bass elevated headphone with a strong attack (unlike the HD650) or less bass level also with an emphasis. An exaggerated attack can lead to distortion which might be related to warmth and harshness at different frequencies. I also don't know what element of the design makes one transducer attack and another subdued or another gives a natural attack presentation.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

The Elex and Clear are ‘punchy’ because of the aggressive uppermids and treble. Also very obvious in a frequency response. Peaks and extra energy in those areas often give off a sense of forwardness, attack and ultimately an aggressive edge to the proceedings.

 

[cactus_farmer]

The Elex and Clear are ‘punchy’ because of the aggressive uppermids and treble. Also very obvious in a frequency response. Peaks and extra energy in those areas often give off a sense of forwardness, attack and ultimately an aggressive edge to the proceedings.

Hmm, but Shure SRH1840 has more emphasis on upper mids than Elex, yet sounds significantly less punchy. Elear actually has a massive dip in upper mids yet sounds way more punchy than SRH1840...?

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

The Shure doesn’t have a peak at 1k which is responsible for the punch or indeed unnaturally clear mids.
I think the Elear is more punchy because it has a wide boot of energy in the bass and low mids.
Edith: or well slight correction - the drop in the uppermids on the Elear underlines the low mids and bass...which in effect is another way of boosting certain areas of frequencies. Audeze does this as well