Headphone honesty, high frequency hearing meta analysis

[sq225917]

https://www.****************/2025/09/science-ended-super-tweeter-myth-new-studies/

Headphone honesty have put together a reasonable primer/ meta analysis on the effects of super tweeters. Worth a read as a one stop source of recent tests.

 

[RickS]

needs summary please!

 

[dasherzx]

i see the reviews section on these things and a picture of batman always comes to my mind

 

[DVDdoug]

Here's the summary from the article:

Where This Leaves Us​

The evidence points in one direction:

• Psychoacoustic abilities collapse above 10–16 kHz
• Blind tests show no perceptual benefit from ultrasonics
• Measurements reveal artifacts in the audible band, not ultrasonic hearing
• The hypersonic effect does not hold up under scrutiny

This isn’t to say super-tweeters can’t change your system. They might—by accident. If adding one smooths a peak at 8 kHz or changes dispersion at 5 kHz, you’ll hear benefits. But those benefits have nothing to do with reproducing 40 kHz.

If you came here for practical advice, we have you covered:

• Designers: Focus on 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Minimize distortion, optimize dispersion, and control resonances.
• Reviewers: Measure distortion and track audible-band changes when super-tweeters are active.
• Listeners: Save your money. Invest in better drivers, room treatment, or subwoofers. Those changes make real, audible differences.

The chase for 30–50 kHz reproduction is solving a problem that does not exist. The latest research shows our hearing, our brains, and our music live below 20 kHz. In other words, super-tweeters are unnecessary.