This is my second time through your series. I can’t believe there aren’t 3.3k comments because an understanding of measurement fundamentals is so important. Of course, it helps if you can reference a work like Toole’s book and grasp concepts like psychoacoustics. 🙂
Great series of videos , very much needed info for many audiophiles . I dissagree however that on-axis performance is the most important . It's actually in the off-axis dispersion that good speakers are separated from badly sounding speakers . It's not that difficult to design for a flat on-axis performance but Constant Directivity is way more difficult and very (the most) important !
I understand. I come from the perspective of a reviewer where I am explaining that - if you understand nothing else - you need to be able to understand what FR is. And IME, a speaker with a designed flat on axis will behave well off axis. Meaning, if the manufacturer cares enough about flat on-axis then DI is going to be pretty good, too. Of course, with a good DI, one can EQ the speaker more easily. But, yes, I agree. I’m just coming at it from a different perspective.
I found you by searching how to test sound frequency. I firmly believe in what influence sound has on everything. Just an idea there are many channels here on RUclips that I was led to believe were of real listening value to enhance quality of needs: bone healing: Heart healing: energy clearing: attract abundance while you sleep: clear congestion head: clear migraines. We have been saturated with amature producers of these videos and 1) need a way to test authentic vibration. 2)ask you tube to monitor this a little more. I have health care education and also had bones to heal and grow quicker by this technique devuces put out by Medtronic specifically bone stimulator. Maybe you could put out mor video content regarding this subject. Thank you.
Thank you for all the information and education for those of us who are not engineers! I agree all theses subjective reviews are not very useful! To me, music is just like food we all have different tastes! Now we can all agree that a Stradivarius sound much better than a cheap violon 🎻
Nice video and great points Erin. I'm getting a little tired of the subjective only reviews out there. Without measurements, they are just pure entertainment.
measurements don't tell the whole story, since measurements are static and music is dynamic. Two speakers can measure identically and still sound very different
If they measured identically then they would sound the same. What you mean is, if they measure identically in some particular manners but not all then they would sound different. 👍
Great video. I would enjoy one about distortion, especially with how to read distortion charts and the influence of the different harmonic distortions on different areas of the spectrum.
@@ErinsAudioCorner - I saw it, but didn't have a chance to watch it yet. But I do have it on my list. I'll have more free time in a week after I complete a work project. Looking forward to watching them both!
Curious about the X-Y frequency response graph. I think I understood what you were saying about your SPL (essentially volume?) on the left hand column can change depending on if you speak softer or speak louder. Does that also affect the Y axis (Frequency/HZ) response of the speaker. Or will that frequency/Hz response remain the same for the given speaker at different volume levels?
Thank you again. Linearity in frequency response is transparency. No one would buy glasses with inclusions or tainted glass or uneven thickness for the purpose of reading books or magazines. And no bibliophile would recommend to do so. No museum would expose paintings under tainted lights.
You're leaving out some very important parts of transparency, such as distortion, and also overhang, which causes smearing and so hurts transparency, detail, and resolution. Dynamic performance and low distortion are just as important as a flat static response curve. How fast do drivers stop moving, and how loud can they perform with minimum distortion? These aspects are very important to a speaker's sound quality.
@Paul Sxton Of course. Perhaps most speakers are sunspeakers or designed to be. Tone controls are instruments of colouring sound. Nothing to say against. To listen to music ain’t a scientific task. But spending thousands of dollars/euros/kopeken is insane when you can equalise for a handful. Transparency from the beginning should be the consumers aim and from then on you can colour ad quod libet. To pay for a fixed coloration and look for fitting flaws in the next part of the reproduction chain is absolute waste of resources in my opinion.
@Paul Sxton Yes it’s my opinion. It is reasonable to prefer neutrality and then tune it to your taste. I don’t want followers. And, yes, the relation of demand and supply is clear. For the mass market high end audio isn’t existent. Sonos, Bose, Yamaha etc. are the dominant suppliers. Pc and Spotify, small powered monitors are the major components. The Apple DAC Dongle isn’t inferior to a 10.000 $ DAC. (conversion wise, not owners pride issues etc.)
Great video series idea Erin. As you say, hopefully it should help keep your videos a bit shorter by asking people to refer to these videos if they want to understand the data you’re providing in the review, rather than having to educate in as much detail in each video.
Hey, Erin I really enjoy your videos! I know you focus on speakers and driver measurements mainly. I'd like to hear your opinions on amps. Do you think amps make much of a difference? Amir does a lot of amp measuring, but he doesn't really say much about how they sound. I've never really heard your opinion on the difference between amps. I know this might be more subjective than you usually get, but I hear so many people saying "this amp sounds better than this amp". Do audiophile amps have something special over something like a quality QSC or crown amp? Something that would actually make the speakers perform better I mean. I make DIY speakers and put tons of thought and effort into the performance but I don't have the skillset to make DIY amps. Would I really be getting better performance if I were to get something more high-end assuming I am not running out of power?
In the broadest sense, I don't get in to amplifier sonics. I shop for amplifiers that a) have power I need, b) have a good name behind it (for reliability concerns), c) have the features (inputs) I need and d) maybe even looks if I'm showing it off. The one spec I do pay attention to besides power is SNR. Some amplifiers have high noise floor and that mixed with high sensitivity speakers isn't great for hi-fi listening because all you hear is static. But, hey, I'm rocking some poor SNR speakers with high-sensitivity speakers (97dB+) in my home theater ... so what do I know. :D :D :D Ultimately, though, I think there are things more important than worrying about amplifiers from reputable companies.
In fact measurement of frequency response in a way it is popularly understood is not available. Hard to explain in two words but it is mostly about timing during collecting measured data. Measurement frequency response in anechoid chamber suffer from ,basic resonance in relatively big chamber. So if such speaker "is flat" in chamber that particular frequency in smaller room may be downed and that is why it is so popularly advised to use sub-woofer., We will be better with speaker which has lowest frequency as own resonance or cooperating with resonance of listener's room than with one which has got results in not matching room resonance of chamber . Mostly due to heavy damping in chamber results in real room will emphasize the reflections of ranges which without treatment are hard to damp in such room . Such room damps well only reflections of sopranos That is why most speakers have too soft sounding in home and one of reasons for unnecessary hunt for higher sopranos That is why in my opinion measurements in chamber are false because conditions are although standard anyway artificial
Thanks for your effort. Good stuff. There's only one point if you may allow me to clarify. You mentioned in-room vs anechoic response being different; while it is true, frequency above the transition frequency, say 250hz, chances are my in room response and yours wouldn't deviate that much.
That is true. My point was more so people wouldn’t take an in-room response of their speakers and then compare that to the on-axis response of another speaker. One still has to be careful comparing two in-room measurements taken in different settings. But trends should be reasonably concluded.
This is amazing and something I sorely needed. Thank you.
Very straight and no jargon! Thank you!
This is my second time through your series. I can’t believe there aren’t 3.3k comments because an understanding of measurement fundamentals is so important. Of course, it helps if you can reference a work like Toole’s book and grasp concepts like psychoacoustics. 🙂
Thanks Erin, you made it simple and plain to layman like me
Perfect! - We do need this data coming out. Everyone will benefit from your efforts =)
Great series of videos , very much needed info for many audiophiles . I dissagree however that on-axis performance is the most important . It's actually in the off-axis dispersion that good speakers are separated from badly sounding speakers . It's not that difficult to design for a flat on-axis performance but Constant Directivity is way more difficult and very (the most) important !
I understand. I come from the perspective of a reviewer where I am explaining that - if you understand nothing else - you need to be able to understand what FR is. And IME, a speaker with a designed flat on axis will behave well off axis. Meaning, if the manufacturer cares enough about flat on-axis then DI is going to be pretty good, too. Of course, with a good DI, one can EQ the speaker more easily.
But, yes, I agree. I’m just coming at it from a different perspective.
Thank you so much for this video
Absolutely excellent Erin! HOWEVER...please include how much smooting is used in graphs. Thanks plenty!
1/20th-octave
I found you by searching how to test sound frequency. I firmly believe in what influence sound has on everything. Just an idea there are many channels here on RUclips that I was led to believe were of real listening value to enhance quality of needs: bone healing: Heart healing: energy clearing: attract abundance while you sleep: clear congestion head: clear migraines. We have been saturated with amature producers of these videos and 1) need a way to test authentic vibration. 2)ask you tube to monitor this a little more. I have health care education and also had bones to heal and grow quicker by this technique devuces put out by Medtronic specifically bone stimulator. Maybe you could put out mor video content regarding this subject. Thank you.
Thank you for all the information and education for those of us who are not engineers! I agree all theses subjective reviews are not very useful! To me, music is just like food we all have different tastes! Now we can all agree that a Stradivarius sound much better than a cheap violon 🎻
You read my mind. I was wondering how to read the data and compare them.
Nice video and great points Erin. I'm getting a little tired of the subjective only reviews out there. Without measurements, they are just pure entertainment.
measurements don't tell the whole story, since measurements are static and music is dynamic. Two speakers can measure identically and still sound very different
If they measured identically then they would sound the same. What you mean is, if they measure identically in some particular manners but not all then they would sound different. 👍
Education to the people,, 👍👍👍👍👍/👍👍👍👍👍
📈
Great video. I would enjoy one about distortion, especially with how to read distortion charts and the influence of the different harmonic distortions on different areas of the spectrum.
It’s coming. 👍
Did you see this one?
ruclips.net/video/jnEGWFEGpmw/видео.html
@@ErinsAudioCorner - I saw it, but didn't have a chance to watch it yet. But I do have it on my list. I'll have more free time in a week after I complete a work project.
Looking forward to watching them both!
¡Gracias!
Thank you!
Curious about the X-Y frequency response graph. I think I understood what you were saying about your SPL (essentially volume?) on the left hand column can change depending on if you speak softer or speak louder. Does that also affect the Y axis (Frequency/HZ) response of the speaker. Or will that frequency/Hz response remain the same for the given speaker at different volume levels?
It shouldn’t change in frequency unless the speaker has issues with compression. Which is a topic that I will be covering very soon. 👍😎
Happy to see this series :) Not seeing the cta link in the description though
Thanks Erin.
You bet!
Thank you again. Linearity in frequency response is transparency. No one would buy glasses with inclusions or tainted glass or uneven thickness for the purpose of reading books or magazines. And no bibliophile would recommend to do so.
No museum would expose paintings under tainted lights.
You're leaving out some very important parts of transparency, such as distortion, and also overhang, which causes smearing and so hurts transparency, detail, and resolution. Dynamic performance and low distortion are just as important as a flat static response curve. How fast do drivers stop moving, and how loud can they perform with minimum distortion? These aspects are very important to a speaker's sound quality.
@Paul Sxton Of course. Perhaps most speakers are sunspeakers or designed to be. Tone controls are instruments of colouring sound. Nothing to say against. To listen to music ain’t a scientific task. But spending thousands of dollars/euros/kopeken is insane when you can equalise for a handful.
Transparency from the beginning should be the consumers aim and from then on you can colour ad quod libet. To pay for a fixed coloration and look for fitting flaws in the next part of the reproduction chain is absolute waste of resources in my opinion.
@Paul Sxton Yes it’s my opinion. It is reasonable to prefer neutrality and then tune it to your taste. I don’t want followers. And, yes, the relation of demand and supply is clear. For the mass market high end audio isn’t existent. Sonos, Bose, Yamaha etc. are the dominant suppliers. Pc and Spotify, small powered monitors are the major components. The Apple DAC Dongle isn’t inferior to a 10.000 $ DAC. (conversion wise, not owners pride issues etc.)
Great video series idea Erin. As you say, hopefully it should help keep your videos a bit shorter by asking people to refer to these videos if they want to understand the data you’re providing in the review, rather than having to educate in as much detail in each video.
Quite an entrance!
Hey, Erin I really enjoy your videos! I know you focus on speakers and driver measurements mainly. I'd like to hear your opinions on amps. Do you think amps make much of a difference? Amir does a lot of amp measuring, but he doesn't really say much about how they sound. I've never really heard your opinion on the difference between amps. I know this might be more subjective than you usually get, but I hear so many people saying "this amp sounds better than this amp". Do audiophile amps have something special over something like a quality QSC or crown amp? Something that would actually make the speakers perform better I mean. I make DIY speakers and put tons of thought and effort into the performance but I don't have the skillset to make DIY amps. Would I really be getting better performance if I were to get something more high-end assuming I am not running out of power?
Great question🤗🤔😇
In the broadest sense, I don't get in to amplifier sonics. I shop for amplifiers that a) have power I need, b) have a good name behind it (for reliability concerns), c) have the features (inputs) I need and d) maybe even looks if I'm showing it off. The one spec I do pay attention to besides power is SNR. Some amplifiers have high noise floor and that mixed with high sensitivity speakers isn't great for hi-fi listening because all you hear is static. But, hey, I'm rocking some poor SNR speakers with high-sensitivity speakers (97dB+) in my home theater ... so what do I know. :D :D :D
Ultimately, though, I think there are things more important than worrying about amplifiers from reputable companies.
In fact measurement of frequency response in a way it is popularly understood is not available. Hard to explain in two words but it is mostly about timing during collecting measured data.
Measurement frequency response in anechoid chamber suffer from ,basic resonance in relatively big chamber. So if such speaker "is flat" in chamber that particular frequency in smaller room may be downed and that is why it is so popularly advised to use sub-woofer., We will be better with speaker which has lowest frequency as own resonance or cooperating with resonance of listener's room than with one which has got results in not matching room resonance of chamber .
Mostly due to heavy damping in chamber results in real room will emphasize the reflections of ranges which without treatment are hard to damp in such room . Such room damps well only reflections of sopranos That is why most speakers have too soft sounding in home and one of reasons for unnecessary hunt for higher sopranos That is why in my opinion measurements in chamber are false because conditions are although standard anyway artificial
Thanks for your effort. Good stuff. There's only one point if you may allow me to clarify. You mentioned in-room vs anechoic response being different; while it is true, frequency above the transition frequency, say 250hz, chances are my in room response and yours wouldn't deviate that much.
That is true. My point was more so people wouldn’t take an in-room response of their speakers and then compare that to the on-axis response of another speaker.
One still has to be careful comparing two in-room measurements taken in different settings. But trends should be reasonably concluded.
@@ErinsAudioCorner thanks for the concurrence. Always a pleasure learning from your videos.
So what does a equalizer kills regarding to other sonic parameters?
An EQ doesn't necessarily hurt when used properly. But it can't make a crappy speaker a great speaker.
link to part 2...