End of The Harman Target Curve?

[PristineSound]

I'm not a headphone guy, I just can't stand the in-head localization of headphones, but I do use it occasionally and when I do, I would like to follow as much of the science as possible.

I came across this Soundstage podcast with Sean Olive and what to share. In this podcast, Olive talks about the new test fixture Type 4.3 standard, where it is accurate from 20Hz to 20kHz vs. the Harman Target Curve was developed on test fixture Type 3.3 that's accurate only from 100Hz to 10kHz; and as such the Harman Target Curve may no longer be applicable or may require updating.

 

[DVDdoug]

Interesting interview!!!

I wouldn't say the original curve is no longer applicable... If your headphones measure well and sound good, they still do... But perhaps updating it will make it a little better or more useful. The graphs & measurements shown here "extend" from 20-20kHz, so if you know you like the curve or if you know that you like a little more bass, etc., they are no less useful to you. The full range is being measured, even if we don't know the "real" target at the extremes. But if you don't know how your personal preference compares to what we're currently seeing, a new "better" curve is probably a better starting point.

The extended bass range is probably a lot more important than extended highs. We like to think we need the full 20kHz range and we really don't want the sound to cut-off at some lower arbitrary frequency, but many (or most) people can't hear that high and in normal music the highest frequencies are weak harmonics where our ears are less sensitive (if we can hear them at all) and they are usually masked (drowned out) by not-as-high frequencies.

It's too bad the fixtures are different and the whole curve has to change... But maybe the fixture difference are no different from ear differences anyway...

 

[thewas]

The Harman curve has been constantly evolving and improving, for example with the use of the B&K 5128 whos ear geometry and impedance better matches an average human ear, main differences are in the treble, see also:

Harman Target, SoundGuys Preference Curve most preferred for in-ears

Dr. Sean Olive reveals the results of his investigation into in-ear listener preference curves at the NYC AES Show 2024.

www.soundguys.com