Max Minimum
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2004
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I don't know what your level of knowledge is so please forgive me if I over- or underestimate your understanding of the subject. Are you asking for a definition of frequency response?
You'll find this measured in Hertz (Hz) or Kilohertz (kHz = 1000 Hz). 500 Hz means 500 cycles per second and Hertz can be used to describe any cyclical event (radiation, sound, etc.). In the case of sound it would mean 500 vibrations per second.
Healthy young human ears can hear sounds ranging from approximately 20 Hz (deep bass) to 20 kHz (high treble). Most adults don't hear much above 16 kHz, though.
Those frequency figures are meant to tell you the range of frequencies that the headphones can produce. Having said that, here's the upsetting news. Usually the figures are nearly meaningless in practical terms. This is because the drivers may produce the stated "18 Hz - 22 kHz" range that is advertised, but on either end of the spectrum the sounds produced may be 20 decibels lower than sounds reproduced at 1 kHz. It's a good sign when a company gives the frequency response figures within a range of relative volume like this: "Frequency Response = 20 Hz - 20 kHz (+/- 3 db)". This means that if the headphones are fed all of the sounds within the claimed frequency response (all at the same input volume) they will output those sounds very evenly, never more than 3 db above the baseline and never more than 3b below it. Of course there are still ways to "fudge" those figures, even when giving these decibel restraints (through measuring techniques or allowances for "short duration" deviances that really aren't so short, etc.). Still, it's better to see that restraint than to not. Then again, you will find that no decibel restraints will be given for some of the best headphones, too, making things even more confusing for the consumer. In the end, don't trust that the frequency response claims from manufacturers tell you much at all about how the 'phones will really sound. It means a lot more if someone like HeadRoom gives frequency response measurements, but even then your ears should make the final judgment because there are a lot of other factors involved in sound quality. You may be able to find posters here whose preferences in sound match yours closely, though, which can be useful sometimes if you're thinking of buying something you cannot first audition.
You'll find this measured in Hertz (Hz) or Kilohertz (kHz = 1000 Hz). 500 Hz means 500 cycles per second and Hertz can be used to describe any cyclical event (radiation, sound, etc.). In the case of sound it would mean 500 vibrations per second.
Healthy young human ears can hear sounds ranging from approximately 20 Hz (deep bass) to 20 kHz (high treble). Most adults don't hear much above 16 kHz, though.
Those frequency figures are meant to tell you the range of frequencies that the headphones can produce. Having said that, here's the upsetting news. Usually the figures are nearly meaningless in practical terms. This is because the drivers may produce the stated "18 Hz - 22 kHz" range that is advertised, but on either end of the spectrum the sounds produced may be 20 decibels lower than sounds reproduced at 1 kHz. It's a good sign when a company gives the frequency response figures within a range of relative volume like this: "Frequency Response = 20 Hz - 20 kHz (+/- 3 db)". This means that if the headphones are fed all of the sounds within the claimed frequency response (all at the same input volume) they will output those sounds very evenly, never more than 3 db above the baseline and never more than 3b below it. Of course there are still ways to "fudge" those figures, even when giving these decibel restraints (through measuring techniques or allowances for "short duration" deviances that really aren't so short, etc.). Still, it's better to see that restraint than to not. Then again, you will find that no decibel restraints will be given for some of the best headphones, too, making things even more confusing for the consumer. In the end, don't trust that the frequency response claims from manufacturers tell you much at all about how the 'phones will really sound. It means a lot more if someone like HeadRoom gives frequency response measurements, but even then your ears should make the final judgment because there are a lot of other factors involved in sound quality. You may be able to find posters here whose preferences in sound match yours closely, though, which can be useful sometimes if you're thinking of buying something you cannot first audition.
