Tyll Hertsens Blog

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An Acoustic Basis for the Harman Listener Target Curve

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Tyll Hertsens | May 03, 2016 | 45 comments

Approaching Head Measurements

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Tyll Hertsens | Apr 19, 2016 | 30 comments

How Do Measurements Sound? by Audeze

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Tyll Hertsens | Apr 13, 2016 | 93 comments

A Survey of the Utility of Headphone Measurements

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Tyll Hertsens | Apr 08, 2016 | 34 comments

How Useful do You Find Headphone Measurements?

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Tyll Hertsens | Apr 08, 2016 | 23 comments

Let's agree from the start that measurements are no substitute for listening when evaluating headphones. The question is, do the measurements serve a useful function?

If you choose the last selection here, you really don't need to bother with the rest of the polls.

Feel free to elaborate on how useful headphone measurements are to you generally in the comments.

After submitting your vote, click here for the next poll, and here if you missed the introductory post.

How Useful do You Find Headphone Measurements?

You bet, I can tell quite a bit about how a headphone might sound.

29% (46 votes)

I can get a rough feel for how a headphone will sound.

51% (81 votes)

I can't tell how it will sound, but I can tell if they're junk or not.

14% (23 votes)

I'm pretty confused by it all, but I'm trying to figure it out.

3% (4 votes)

Measurements are next to useless as far as I'm concerned.

3% (5 votes)

Total votes: 159

How do You Evaluate Bass Measurements?

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Tyll Hertsens | Apr 08, 2016 | 18 comments

Some will, no doubt, say "MOAR IS BETTA!", but let's not go there. Please select which best describes what you see and are looking for in bass response measurements.

Feel free to elaborate on how useful bass headphone measurements are to you in the comments.

After submitting your vote, click here for the next poll, and here if you missed for the introductory post.

How do You Evaluate Bass Measurements?

I'd like to see a nice flat line, and I know what it looks like.

30% (41 votes)

I get the plots, and I like the +3dB boost of the Harman target response.

49% (68 votes)

I get 'em. I really don't mind a gently rolling-off bass; lots of cans have it.

8% (11 votes)

To tell the truth, the bass often seems somewhat different than the plots.

11% (15 votes)

MOAR BASS!!! (Editor's Note: Hey, I said knock it off!)

2% (3 votes)

Total votes: 138

How do You Evaluate Mid-Range Measurements?

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Tyll Hertsens | Apr 08, 2016 | 10 comments

As J. Gordon Holt famously said, "If the midrange isn't right, nothing else matters." Please select which best describes what you see and are looking for in midrange response measurements.

Feel free to elaborate on how useful midrange headphone measurements are to you in the comments.

After submitting your vote, click here for the next poll, and here if you missed the introductory post.

How do You Evaluate Mid-Range Measurements?

Of course I get it, and again, what's wrong with a flat line?

25% (32 votes)

I get the plots, and I like the gentle upward slope of the Harman target.

48% (60 votes)

I like a "U" shaped response.

5% (6 votes)

I like a mid-strong response.

8% (10 votes)

I just look for too many wiggles; should be flat I suppose.

10% (12 votes)

So...where's the midrange exactly?

5% (6 votes)

Total votes: 126

How do You Evaluate Treble Measurements?

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Tyll Hertsens | Apr 08, 2016 | 18 comments

We'll probably all agree that treble measurements are noisy and difficult to interpret. It's mostly blurring your eyes to get the gist of the general trends. Ah well, please select which best describes what you see and are looking for in treble response measurements.

Feel free to elaborate on how useful treble headphone measurements are to you in the comments.

After submitting your vote, you're done. Thank you for helping out!

How do You Evaluate Treble Measurements?

Can we get a holla for a flat line! Okay, maybe a little roll-off.

23% (28 votes)

Heaven forbid an upward spike between 4-8kHz; after that just a little roll-off.

35% (43 votes)

I like the evermore-descending response of the Harman target, all the way up.

27% (34 votes)

I really can't tell what's going on up there.

9% (11 votes)

Don't believe anything you see after 4kHz!