Frequency range vs frequency response

The best is to see a plot of anechoic frequency response in a reputable lab like Canada NRC. Speaker Measurments

Most of manufacturers cheat on frequency range specifications (use in room boost or use loose definitions of range).

All systems in the world have a finite bandwidth and so any input is subjected to nonlinear effects somehow. The output is the "response" of the input according to the system so that is where the name comes from. The range is a reading of the response and is usually set at the -3dB points of the high and low parts of the bandwidth's passband. Hope I am not confusing you more.

If you look at the bass end of the response, a good way to get more information about potential performance is to see how the slope is shaped. Range info can't specifically tell you this. If the response curve drops off slowly relative to another design, it will have more bass extension in room. If it drops off fast, you will have less ultimate extension.

Some range specs will also give -6dB in addition to the typical -3dB. This is good and gives a better indication of what you should expect. In my experience, the -6dB point is more valuable because you can actually get useable bass from it once in a room. A room will boost the bass compared to an anechoic chamber - and the latter is what is used to get the manufacturer's response curve so you can't equate the two. But in any case, the lower the Hz number, the more bass you get.

Arthur

'Frequency range' is simply the range, usually expressed from Hz to KHz, that a given device will produce. It tells you nothing about the amplitude variations within the range. 'Frequency response' is usually specified as having a certain amplitude tolerance, such as "±3db", which means that the device is able to produce sound with the range specified at no more or less than 3db from the reference level at any frequency. A plot is much more useful. See the plot below, top graph:

http://imf-electronics.com/TLS80/tls80graph1.jpg

The short answer to your question is "response".

Range tells you "yes, technically the speaker can play that frequency". Response simply adds "and here's how loud that frequency will be played in relation to a baseline reference".

Response is typically quoted as being within plus or minus 3dB of the baseline - this would be considered roughly "flat" or "good" response. As you get closer to the range extremes, frequencies will be played at lower and lower volumes eventually to the point where it is played so quietly it makes no difference to you.

Bass at -6dB absolutely adds to the music, even -10dB does. If you can get a look at the response curve of a speaker it will give you a very good idea of where "useable", "hearable" bass dies off.

You may have noticed on the link I gave above that some speakers go lower than others. This does not necessarily make them better. You need to look at off axis response, distortion and impedance load in order to get an idea if a speaker will sound good.

Compare Dynaudio Focus 110. To the Dynaudio Confidence C4.
Obviously apples to oranges here as the C4 is TEN times the price of the Focus 110.

You will notice a similar frequency "range" (anechoic) but the similarity ends there.

Focus 110 is a small ported design and it shows up as oodles of distortion and a nasty sharp cliff drop in ultra LF (12 db/octave). Of course, for a small speaker, the Focus 110 has "astonishing" bass and would make a great near field mini-monitor for a small room even without a sub.

So it only when you look at the distortion figures that you realize that the C4 is a far better speaker (as it should be given its price). The C4 has distortion less than 1% for much of the useful audio range at decent 95 db SPL levels at 2 meters (live music levels).

Sadly, the Focus 110 has 1% distortion only between 1.5 Khz and 4 KHz (at the higher SPL test levels) with the rest far exceeding 1% and vastly exceeding even the cheapest electronic amplifiers distortion.

In the C4, only the tweeter looks slightly disappointing at high SPL - with the rest of the measurements looking stellar(it begs a question as to why did they skimp on the tweeter on such a stellar speaker?).

These basic measurements only help spot potential problems and it would be better to have more third party data, such as impulse or transient response measurements (waterfall plots). And, of course, good measurements performance just help to narrow down the speaker selection process because nothing can beat careful auditioning.

Gents:

Thank you all for your excellent answers, links, and technical explanations. I think I'm getting it now. Response is the one to look at more so than the range. That's what I was leaning towards. I'm in the market to upgrade my B&W standmounts in the next few weeks so all the help I can get is certainly appreciated. Distortion is another important measurement to look at as well. Thanks for that.