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How low can one hear Huh?? Say again

I read a review and the reviewer wrote "one can not hear sound below 30 htz" (??)
Of course he was referring to music.
I am not audiologist, but I think this is total B.S.
If that were so,we could all be happy with speakers that just go down to 30htz.
I've had speakers rated at 30htz, 26htz and presently own speakers rated at 20htz.
HUGE difference between the 30htz and 20htz speakers and a very noticeable difference between the 26htz and 20htz speakers.
Where is this reviewer coming from???

david99

Showing 1 response by drew_eckhardt

drew_eckhardt
394 posts
 
1. Even if you can't hear 20Hz, at reasonable listening levels a speaker with an F3 point of 20 Hz has much more perceived output at 30dB than one -3dB @ 30Hz. Perceptually that can correspond to more than a 10dB change at 1KHz.

2. With 10% harmonic distortion on a 20Hz tone the harmonics sound louder than the fundamental. Distortion can be a lot worse at those low frequencies.

3. The threshold of hearing goes way up at low frequencies. Below ~75dB you're not going to hear 20Hz even when your threshold of hearing hasn't increased with age or rock concerts.
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