While looking for a quality headphones, we generally focus on the factors like design, durability, power backup and many more. If you want to enhance your music experience to next level then you must add one more factor in your checklist that is ‘frequency response’.
If you are talking about audio, how speakers or headphones works and want to choose the perfect pair of headphones accordingly, then you should know what frequency response is.
In this article, we are going to see what is frequency response in headphones and how does it help to enhance the music experience.
What is frequency?
Let’s begin from the basic.
Frequency is just repeating same thing again and again with respect to time which we call a cycle.
Let’s know how this cycle is related with sound.
As we know, the sound is passed in the form of waves through air. These waves are measured with respect to time. Meaning, whichever sound we hear, it can be of music or loud buzzing or even soft whispering, it is measured in cycle per second.
This per second cycle is nothing but frequency which is measured in hertz and or Hz’s.
Eventually we can say the number of cycles repeating in one second is nothing but the frequency. As the number of cycles increases, frequency will also increase and vice-versa.
What frequency can human ears hear?
Hearing range or frequency range is different from species to species. Human frequency range is from 20Hz to 20 kHz. This can vary a little from person to person, gender wise or according to age. Like young kids and women can hear unto 20 Hz but keen eared men can hear even below 20 Hz which is near about 13-14 Hz. Here 20Hz states 20 wave cycles per second
What is frequency Response?
Word itself tells its meaning. Frequency response is nothing but the response given to the provided input. Simply we can say that frequency response is the connection between input and output.
Let’s take an example of good relationship. If the response from both the sides is equal, then it becomes a strong relationship that controls the bonding.
Same is with frequency response. More the bonding is strong between input and output, more it controls the system in better way.
Concept of frequency response is used mostly in the world of design and control system. It can be of audio, vehicle and many more.
Frequency response in headphones
Now you have brief idea of frequency, its response and human hearing range. Let’s move to the heart of the article, frequency response in headphones and how does it affect to music notes.
Frequency response in headphones tells us how precisely the headphones convert the given input signals into that of output. More is the accuracy, better will be the music experience.
Here are the different frequency levels for different notes.
Bass: You might think that bass produce smack so the frequencies are very high for it, but we feel a little invert. Actually bass is low end frequencies that varies from 20 Hz to 300 Hz. It takes you deep into the music and you feel every beat.
Sub-bass Range: These are the perfect dance partners for you. The music we don’t want to understand and just want to enjoy every beat with hip-hop steps then you may choose these frequency ranges that vary from 20Hz to 60 Hz.
Treble range: These are the notes that brings spark in music. They range very high from 4000Hz to 20000Hz. Treble notes enhance juiciness Or crisp in music. That is why listening to treble notes makes you more energetic and enthusiastic.
Mid-range: These frequencies add clarity in sound. It ranges from 300 Hz to 4000 Hz. If you love clarity in lyrics and want to mid-range feel instruments clearly, then this is for you.
Variations in frequencies
Frequencies vary in different ranges. It is so very crucial for you to know which frequency produces what kind of sound.
Average frequency range: As we have seen, human hearing frequency range is from 20Hz to 20 KHz. This is the general frequency range which is same as that of human ears can hear. So, if you are hunting the headphones that match with the normal human hearing, then you can go with these frequency headphones.
Frequency below 20 Hz: If you are a music lover who feels the music rather than listening to it, then these are ranges made for you. There are some headbands which produce frequencies less than 20 Hz. Also if you are a fan of thumps and bass that gives hip-ho feel then you can have the headphones producing frequencies below 20 Hz.
Frequencies beyond 20 KHz: If you focus more on understanding the music then you can go with the headphones that produce frequencies more than 20 KHz. Though this frequency is a little more than human hearing but you may get appreciable music experience by understanding every beat. So, choose the best suit for you to deep die into your beloved music.
Is Frequency Response only the factor deciding sound quality?
No doubt Frequency response is one of the crucial slices deciding sound quality of headphones but, apart from frequency response, there are other significant factors too that enhance richness of your music experience. You should quick check the following factors also before buying quality sound pair for you
- Driver type
- Impedance
- Sound sensitivity
- Design and material
- Amplifier
- ANC (Active noise cancellation)
Some interesting facts about frequency response
You must have heard that sometimes our pet make weird sounds before some calamities. Do they have any miraculous powers?
Of course not but, they are lucky to have the power of quick sensing upcoming disaster as their frequency range is much more higher than that of human. Here are hearing frequency ranges of some animals.
- Dog- 67Hz to 45 KHz
- Cat- 45 Hz to 64 KHz
- Rat- 200Hz to 76 KHz
- Bat- 2 KHz to 110 KHz
- Elephant- 16 Hz to 12 KHz
- Owl- 200Hz to 12 KHz
Sometimes this gift can be harmful for the animals as their hearing is so very sensible. So, we need to be little sensible towards or beloved animals and try reducing sound pollute as much as possible.
Conclusion
If you want to understand complete scenario of music and sound production, then you should not miss reading complete article. Precisely talking about frequency, it is nothing but per second production of sound waves. Normal hearing range of human beings is more or less 20 Hz to 20 KHz.
Frequency response is one of the sweet slices of music which defines how accurately the headphones maintain the relationship between input and output signals. Strong is bonding, better will be the sound quality.
Frequency ranges vary from listener to listener. You can go through the bass, sub-bass, mid, treble, extended high or low frequency ranges specified in article and choose the best suit for you accordingly.
Though frequency response is one of the critical factors, it is not only the piece who decides sound quality of your headphones.
I hope you enjoyed reading facts about frequency response and different frequency ranges of not only humans but of our best buddies, the animals.