RE: You can't really have this conversation without talking about distortion.

So where is the cut-off point, and who decides what is extended and what is too bright for their system, for their own particular listening taste, or as compensation for a listener's own hearing loss.

Higher ordered harmonics are interpreted by the ear as brightness and harshness. This is very different from high frequency extension! The ear assigns a tonality to all forms of distortion. This is why solid state of the last 60 years has been seen as 'bright' by tube lovers- not because it has a frequency response error, but because the ear interprets distortion the way it does. Its also important to understand that the ear uses the higher ordered harmonics to sense sound pressure and so is more keenly sensitive to them than almost anything else.

So when talking about 'too bright for their taste' are we talking about a frequency response issue or distortion?

Music poses special reproduction challenges because Fletcher Munson means that we are most sensitive at birdsong frequencies (this is a survival thing...) and there are a lot of musical harmonics that occur in that range, as well as plenty of opportunity for higher ordered harmonic distortion products to show up. When you combine those two sensitivities of the ear with those two aspects of music and distortion, it can be quite vexing.

I find that the best systems will not have a sense of loudness; that even at high volume they remain relaxed but have plenty of authority. IME this comes from really paying attention to how electronics make distortion and making sure that microphonic influences in the front end of the system are minimized.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Fetcher Munson Curve vs. the notion of high-frequency extension - Duster 05:25:18 03/22/21 (14)

Linkitz and I have long agreed - LtMandella 10:29:19 04/06/21 (0)

That's weird, nobody's mentioned directionality of cables or fuses, or whatever. Nt - geoffkait 15:02:39 03/24/21 (0)

More to the point is 'spotlighted' treble being confused with extended treble. - Duster 12:17:47 03/23/21 (0)

RE: You can't really have this conversation without talking about distortion. - Ralph 09:14:31 03/23/21 (0)

Microphones capture all kinds of "detail" you never hear in a live acoustic performance - Brian H P 12:47:32 03/22/21 (0)

I don't think its the 10 kHz and up - DrChaos 11:06:19 03/22/21 (0)

RE: Fetcher Munson Curve vs. the notion of high-frequency extension - chocolate_lover 09:41:44 03/22/21 (5)

RE: Fetcher Munson Curve vs. the notion of high-frequency extension - Todd Krieger 10:15:59 03/22/21 (4)

My plastic $4 super tweeter from RadioShack..... - AbeCollins 11:25:49 03/22/21 (3)

High Frequency Extension and "Soundstage"....... - Todd Krieger 14:27:53 03/24/21 (1)

CD-4 quad LP playback systems- 45 kHz bandwidth with Shibata styli. nt. - MWE 11:09:47 04/05/21 (0)

RE: My plastic $4 super tweeter from RadioShack..... - rivervalley817 11:49:08 03/22/21 (0)

RE: Fetcher Munson Curve vs. the notion of high-frequency extension - Dave_K 09:26:06 03/22/21 (0)

RE: Fetcher Munson Curve vs. the notion of high-frequency extension - Todd Krieger 07:58:26 03/22/21 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: You can't really have this conversation without talking about distortion. - Ralph 09:14:31 03/23/21 (0)

RE: You can't really have this conversation without talking about distortion.

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