kcuFdlO
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2010
- Posts
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[size=medium]The purpose of this thread is to see if I could get some folks to take this test for themselves, and through comparison learn where we are with regard to our hearing abilities. As a member of the Baby Boomer Generation I have concerns about my hearing not being what it once was. I guess there is no crying over it but I thought I would see what I could figure out without going to an audiologist. [/size]
[size=medium]I found a site that has an array of frequencies by dB levels. I used this array to construct a graph of my hearing. Although the instructions at the site are for the user to select a dB level of the 1Hz band and then attempt to match that volume level at each of the other frequencies, I chose to alter these instructions. [/size]
[size=12pt]How I tested [/size]
[size=medium]I began at the lowest dB and frequency. I continued up the volume levels or db ratings until I could hear the tone and stopped. I then moved on to the next higher frequency and repeated my test. I continued along this way until I have completed the entire array. [/size][size=medium]http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/hearing.html[/size]
[size=medium]After completing the test I would perform a screen capture and save the image of the array. I would then perform a refresh to clear the array of the previous result.[/size]
[size=12pt]Equipment[/size]
[size=medium]For consistency between the three IEMs I used, they were each plugged into an amplifier/DAC with the volume setting the same for each. Over the IEMs I wore a set of Peltor President high attenuation headset normally used at the pistol range. [/size]
[size=medium]At the volume levels I was listening with this setup, my heartbeat and breathing were much louder than the tones.[/size]
[size=12pt]Conclusions[/size]
[size=medium]After completing the testing I columned the results in an excel spreadsheet to produce this report. It serves two purposes. [/size]
[size=10pt]Although this graph would make it appear that I am unable to hear tones above 12kHz it is not entirely correct. At a second site I found test frequencies up to 20kHz. I am able to hear tones up to 18kHz, but it requires higher dB levels outside this test capability. For example: If I was allowed to raise the power of the Fiio amp to level 30 I could hear the tones at the 16kHz level. Here is the second signal generator I used to go above the 16kHz level. [/size]http://www.hearingfrequencytest.com/
[size=medium]Comparing these tones to those produced by various musical instruments, there may be some sounds that I am missing in the music I am listening to normally, but as I stated at the beginning of this thread I can’t cry about it now. This is analogous of complaining that I can't see infrared. I have never been able to see infrared and can only guess at what it would be like. If at one point in my life I was able to hear these tones, I never tested myself and cannot therefore determine if music sounded any different to me they than it does now. I do know what I can hear and that I can tell what I like and don’t like.[/size]
[size=medium]What I can say is that the tones above 16kHz that I did hear when sufficiently amplified were not pleasant to listen to and if these are what I am missing that is fine by me. [/size]
[size=medium][/size]
[size=medium] [/size]
[size=medium]I found a site that has an array of frequencies by dB levels. I used this array to construct a graph of my hearing. Although the instructions at the site are for the user to select a dB level of the 1Hz band and then attempt to match that volume level at each of the other frequencies, I chose to alter these instructions. [/size]
[size=12pt]How I tested [/size]
[size=medium]I began at the lowest dB and frequency. I continued up the volume levels or db ratings until I could hear the tone and stopped. I then moved on to the next higher frequency and repeated my test. I continued along this way until I have completed the entire array. [/size][size=medium]http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/hearing.html[/size]
[size=medium]After completing the test I would perform a screen capture and save the image of the array. I would then perform a refresh to clear the array of the previous result.[/size]
[size=12pt]Equipment[/size]
[size=medium]For consistency between the three IEMs I used, they were each plugged into an amplifier/DAC with the volume setting the same for each. Over the IEMs I wore a set of Peltor President high attenuation headset normally used at the pistol range. [/size]
[size=medium]At the volume levels I was listening with this setup, my heartbeat and breathing were much louder than the tones.[/size]
- [size=medium]Fiio E7 (volume setting 10 / EQ 1)[/size]
- [size=medium]Peltor President Headset[/size]
- [size=medium]Skull Candy Ink’d [/size]
- [size=medium]Sennhiesser CX-300 II [/size]
- [size=medium]Denon AH C560R[/size]
[size=12pt]Conclusions[/size]
[size=medium]After completing the testing I columned the results in an excel spreadsheet to produce this report. It serves two purposes. [/size]
- [size=medium]It shows the performance of the IEMs used [/size]
- [size=medium]My ability to hear these frequencies[/size]
[size=10pt]Although this graph would make it appear that I am unable to hear tones above 12kHz it is not entirely correct. At a second site I found test frequencies up to 20kHz. I am able to hear tones up to 18kHz, but it requires higher dB levels outside this test capability. For example: If I was allowed to raise the power of the Fiio amp to level 30 I could hear the tones at the 16kHz level. Here is the second signal generator I used to go above the 16kHz level. [/size]http://www.hearingfrequencytest.com/
[size=medium]Comparing these tones to those produced by various musical instruments, there may be some sounds that I am missing in the music I am listening to normally, but as I stated at the beginning of this thread I can’t cry about it now. This is analogous of complaining that I can't see infrared. I have never been able to see infrared and can only guess at what it would be like. If at one point in my life I was able to hear these tones, I never tested myself and cannot therefore determine if music sounded any different to me they than it does now. I do know what I can hear and that I can tell what I like and don’t like.[/size]
[size=medium]What I can say is that the tones above 16kHz that I did hear when sufficiently amplified were not pleasant to listen to and if these are what I am missing that is fine by me. [/size]
[size=medium][/size]
[size=medium] [/size]