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Extended Frequency Range: Effect on Perceived Speaker Sound

Here's a question on something I really don't know a thing about:

In this era of hi-rez sound sources like SACD and DVD-A, what's the significance/impact of extended frequency range for/on the perception of speaker sound?

As we know, human hearing is more or limited to below 22 kHz, and so most speaker manufacturers, rationally enough, have been happy to settle with the 20-20,000 Hz range. But a lot of today's premier models are capable of notably good reproduction throughout ranges up to 40 kHz and even 100 kHz, using the newer generation "supertweeters" and other innovative engineering solutions (makers such as Vivid, Gamut, Marten, and Avalon come to my mind). These speakers seem to garner nothing but highest praise in listening tests, especially for their exquisite highs and the impact of these highs on the overall experience of the reproduced sound. Is this reaction simply nothing but a reflection of the great overall engineering job done (flat freq. response way up), or does the hyperextended upper range indeed somehow specifically matter for the way we perceive the sound, even if we can no longer hear it?

That's of course much in the context of SACD and DVD-A recordings whose response exceeds the range of our hearing.

The same question could probably be asked about preamps, too. Why do their range need to extend way beyond the limits of our hearing?

Sorry if this speaks of nothing but blind ignorance on my part.

TL

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Topic - Extended Frequency Range: Effect on Perceived Speaker Sound - tlyyra 05:22:55 04/19/07 (54)
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