Here's my understanding

Posted by Quest (A) on November 6, 2003 at 11:01:23

In Reply to: Super tweeters - benefit or snake-oil posted by RGA on October 9, 2003 at 19:06:58:

The general understanding of human hearing from 20Hz to 20kHz for a typical grownup around 20 years of age is based on survey and does not apply to all people: some might hear lower, some might hear higher in the high freq. region.

For example: my hearing is good from approx. 40Hz to all the way to 25kHz. Interestingly, my hearing below 45Hz properly (been like that since I was a boy)is not that acute. But then on the other hand, my high freq. hearing has been really good after all these years (I once tested my hearing when I was in my mid-teens and I was good up to 28kHz).

Too many times engineers draw their line based on improper understandings. One of the prime examples was the creation of CeeDee back in 1978: They decided that human hearing is only "good" from 20~20kHz (who said that humans cannot "hear" beyond 20kHz?!) and limit their sampling rate to 20kHz and anything beyond that gone "missing". As a result, subtle information that forms the "ambience" and "air" that calls for sound information from 14kHz and upwards gone missing which leads to the general "thinness" and "lack of space/air" in typical CeeDee format.

Disregarding the pros/cons of Japanese "mid-fi" mentality, the Japanese believed that there is information beyond that "20kHz" mark that may contribute to the sense of space in the music. For that matter, a lot of speaker manufacturers such as Technics, Murata, etc. have created certain speaker line which can reproduce close to 100kHz, disregarding attenuation levels.

While I have no way of validing their findings (I'll probably do that next year if I can take a trip to Tokyo), my personal belief has always been to have a gentle rolloff beyond 25kHz which would be sufficient enough for most mortals like us.

Mind you though: (1) a good Neuman/Ortofon vinyl lathe cutter can go up to approx. 43~48kHz and so is a good MC cartridge (2) Murata is the pioneer in ceramic-related products in Japan from ceramic disc capacitors to piezo ultrasonic transducers They've been in business for 60+ years and they are pretty much the forerunner in their field and for that I have no reason not be believe in their products.

My 2c's worth.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Super tweeters - benefit or snake-oil - RGA 19:06:58 10/09/03 (17)

What does the HF info do to the audible band? - MarkgM 20:59:26 11/06/03 (0)

Here's my understanding - Quest 11:01:23 11/06/03 (0)

Re: Super tweeters - benefit or snake-oil - Bold Eagle 19:00:34 10/31/03 (0)

If you want extension use a Beryllium based Tweeter! - NEAR SOTA 17:10:22 10/11/03 (11)

Re: If you want extension use a Beryllium based Tweeter! - NEAR SOTA 14:37:38 10/13/03 (0)

I just bought a pair of beryllium ribbons. - tom1356 21:47:42 10/12/03 (3)

Who makes 'em, and where did you get 'em? - Commuteman 15:25:46 10/14/03 (2)

Re: Who makes 'em, and where did you get 'em? - tom1356 15:59:38 10/14/03 (1)

thanks!! (nt) - Commuteman 23:23:30 10/14/03 (0)

Does anyone sell add on Beryllium Tweeters? - Norm 07:45:28 10/12/03 (1)

I guess I should have said supertweeters. nt - Norm 09:47:31 10/12/03 (0)

Have you seen the Murata piezos? >100kHz... - Commuteman 22:59:55 10/11/03 (2)

I've often wondered... - Superfly 07:52:02 10/12/03 (0)

$1800-$2600 a pair! That should be the price of the beryllium tweeters? nt - Norm 07:38:27 10/12/03 (0)

Re: If you want extension use a Beryllium based Tweeter! - Ted Smith 18:10:20 10/11/03 (0)

Re: Super tweeters - benefit or snake-oil - kurt s 15:43:45 10/10/03 (0)

with CDs tweeters for above 20kHz. are snake oil (nt) - Richard BassNut Greene 10:54:45 10/10/03 (0)

Follow Ups

Here's my understanding - Quest 11:01:23 11/06/03 (0)

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