Distortion of human hearing - Page 5

unclejed613 · 18th April 2008, 11:22 AM

when i was about 10 years old, i experienced IMD in my ears once that i will never forget. i was at a 4th of July parade and the fire department went by with all of their sirens going. these were the old mechanical sirens, not the synthesized ones they use today. i can still remember the sound of the distortion in my ears as two sirens at different frequencies mixed in my ears and i could hear the difference frequency as clearly as i could hear the sirens. i only heard this while the trucks were right in front of me as if a switch had been turned on and off, and it was painful. yes there is definitely a "threshold of pain" in human hearing. every time i see the fletcher-munson curves i remember it.

JRace · 22nd April 2008, 07:56 PM

To further complicate matters it shoud be stated that the ear canals length and shape cause changes in the freq. response at the Tympanic Membrane (TM, or eardrum). This is different for every person, and is different on either side of our heads.

Also, it must be stated that the Pinna's (the part of the ear that is outside of our head) shape and size also amplifiy and distort the original sound - and this is also different for ever single ear.

In other words every ear distorts the sounds differently.

Andy Bartha · 22nd April 2008, 08:14 PM

What I don't understand and have never been explained by any speaker manufacurer is why do they all kill themselve to acheive rules flat response when the Flecher - Munson curves show that the ear's response isn't even close to being flat. At least you would think they would try to boost speaker response where the ear response is deficient. But high end speakers have turned in to funiture shows with sound quality lagging way behind.

setmenu · 22nd April 2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy Bartha
What I don't understand and have never been explained by any speaker manufacurer is why do they all kill themselve to acheive rules flat response when the Flecher - Munson curves show that the ear's response isn't even close to being flat. At least you would think they would try to boost speaker response where the ear response is deficient. But high end speakers have turned in to funiture shows with sound quality lagging way behind.

Got to remember that the Fletcher Munson curves are OUR nominal flat response.
What we perceive with our ears and brain is our only frame of reference.

.

unclejed613 · 22nd April 2008, 11:21 PM

the world around us has a "flat" response, so speakers should too...

18th April 2008, 11:22 AM	#41
unclejed613 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	when i was about 10 years old, i experienced IMD in my ears once that i will never forget. i was at a 4th of July parade and the fire department went by with all of their sirens going. these were the old mechanical sirens, not the synthesized ones they use today. i can still remember the sound of the distortion in my ears as two sirens at different frequencies mixed in my ears and i could hear the difference frequency as clearly as i could hear the sirens. i only heard this while the trucks were right in front of me as if a switch had been turned on and off, and it was painful. yes there is definitely a "threshold of pain" in human hearing. every time i see the fletcher-munson curves i remember it. __________________ Vintage Audio and Pro-Audio repair ampz(removethis)@sohonet.net spammer trap: http://www1284177414881.v-dc.net/

22nd April 2008, 11:21 PM	#45
unclejed613 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	the world around us has a "flat" response, so speakers should too... __________________ Vintage Audio and Pro-Audio repair ampz(removethis)@sohonet.net spammer trap: http://www1284177414881.v-dc.net/

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sensitivity of human hearing	retroman	Multi-Way	49	7th July 2009 10:31 PM
Harmonics above 20Khz - "Hi-Fi" and the limits of human hearing	percy	Everything Else	62	12th March 2008 05:27 PM
Human Hearing.................	Gavinator68	Everything Else	25	26th January 2006 02:15 AM
Sensitivity of human hearing	JDT	Subwoofers	8	15th April 2005 02:36 AM
human hearing	sss	Solid State	123	8th September 2003 07:57 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

22nd April 2008, 07:56 PM	#42
JRace diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vernon, BC	To further complicate matters it shoud be stated that the ear canals length and shape cause changes in the freq. response at the Tympanic Membrane (TM, or eardrum). This is different for every person, and is different on either side of our heads. Also, it must be stated that the Pinna's (the part of the ear that is outside of our head) shape and size also amplifiy and distort the original sound - and this is also different for ever single ear. In other words every ear distorts the sounds differently.

22nd April 2008, 08:14 PM	#43
Andy Bartha diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oregon	What I don't understand and have never been explained by any speaker manufacurer is why do they all kill themselve to acheive rules flat response when the Flecher - Munson curves show that the ear's response isn't even close to being flat. At least you would think they would try to boost speaker response where the ear response is deficient. But high end speakers have turned in to funiture shows with sound quality lagging way behind.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)