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Flat frequency response

I am often surprised by the number of speakers with "gee-whiz bang" technology but can't even get speaker design 101 right. I can see the benefit of avoiding a lot of signal processing but preferences notwithstanding, flat frequency response seems like the logical place to start and then progress from there.

1) Why is it so hard to achieve?

2) Does it matter?

3) Is it reasonable to say when you skip the basics you are only progressing on a flawed foundation.

cdc

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,886 posts
 

Anyone who wants to hold up "flat" as ideal needs to at least investigate the B&K or the Harman speaker curves. There’s a lot of stuff written there. Also the East Coast vs. West Coast sound. How Klipsch and AR were sounding different from JBL and why.

Also, take a look at the work Floyd Toole has done in terms of determining bass levels vs. user preferences.

Then there’s the issue of hearing and volume. Some speakers really bring out the best at low volumes while others need to be played loud.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to deciding what a speaker output should be like.

 

 

Best,

 

E

erik_squires
15,886 posts
 

but can’t even get speaker design 101 right.

 

Can you please point us to speakers you have designed in the past? A write-up or measurements of them? Where did you take Speaker Design 101?  Is there a particular author /  engineer whose course or book on speaker design you are referring to?

That’s the sort of background I would expect from a post that claims speakers are not designed correctly.

My guess, based on your questions is that you have none of that background, but are interested audiophile who is trying to understand the meaning of frequency response measurements. 

Best,

 

E

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