Our data indicates at least 64% of listeners are happy with the Target. The others want less bass (21%) or more bass (15%).
2/3 so the majority of music consumers which are mostly young folks on phones with BT headphones listening to popular music which is compressed like hell, will certainly prefer a little bass boost and some top end lowered. There is no doubt about that. Also people in transit will almost all prefer some bass boost.
The 'less bass' folks can choose other headphones (or use a tone control). Bass heads (a smaller group) will want humongous bass and nothing else.
For them too there are products they like and can buy. And they can always use bass boost switches or settings.
This has always been the case even before the Harman target was there. Harman research has simply shown that the majority simply prefers some extra bass for playback. There can be several reasons for this but regardless the facts are there.
So give them a tone controls or an app to customize the bass/treble balance of the headphone to compensate for their training/age/ level of testosterone/estrogen and hearing loss.
Yes, and it has always existed. Tone controls... Some buy headphones or speakers with 'permanent' tone controls in it as well. This too has always been the case. Only purists hated tone controls and wanted defeat buttons so the market gave it to them.
It's not rocket science to personalize the headphone to satisfy everyone's taste.
certainly today it isn't with the huge amount of headphones available and smartphones having all kinds of EQ possibilities.
Still... a lot of folks still believe it is rocket science and want others to do it for them.
They are so afraid to do it 'wrong' or have an incorrect EQ based on this or that.
For them a baseline or reference is handy.
I think the whole discussion is the 1/3 of folks that want or feel the prescribed amount and spectrum of the bass lift is not to their liking.
It's those folks that feel the baseline is incorrect. They will always moan. What most of them don't seem to get is that it is not obligated to listen to headphones with that exact tonal balance. Besides..,. I only know of a handful of headphones that actually are close to that target.
Headphone owners also do not
have to EQ to that baseline nor are they forced to.
One has a choice not to boost bass, only boost a little or a bit more.
IMO headphones should have a smooth response, sound tonally correct (as real as sounds around you) and if the recordings ask for it adjust the bass or other parts using simple tone controls.
One thing is for sure there is no target curve that can satisfy all people. Harman curve does this for the majority of people (2/3) so the other third will always question/debate or hate it. This can't be helped. Combine this with strong opinionated people and discussions are there.
R.I.P. Harman target ?
No of course not. Will some folks prefer another tonal balance ? Yes, always for whatever reason they have.
Is one tonal balance THE correct one ... in all cases... for all people and is something to strive for ? No.
But is it a good baseline from where one can adjust tonal balance ? Yes IMO it is, My personal one is close but not the same though.
To me an even response (no large dips and peaks) low enough distortion with a few dB of bass boost sounds great.