Headphones

17 readers

1 users here now

A community for discussion around all topics related to headphones and personal audio.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

communick@hi-fi.community

Discussion about flat vs Hi-Fi (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by freedomfever@alien.top to c/headphones@hi-fi.community

4 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I’m curious about headphone audiophile users take on flat response vs Hi-Fi sound, so I’m hoping to get a discussion going.

I’ve been an audio professional all my life, so obviously I am a big proponent of a flat response.

I have after many years had to accept that it’s merely because I’m “tuned” for a flat response sounding good, and as such that’s what sound good to me, even to a point when I tune PA’s. I’ve learned this because that’s my reference when mixing records on various systems.

Audio is a learned subjective experience (in my humble opinion), and as such why do we not aim for headphones that have accurate replication of the intended record sound, with a realistic stereo image?

I’m curious to hear your opinions.

top 4 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] szakee@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

pls define this "hi-fi" sound

[–] fediverser@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

This post is an automated archive from a submission made on /r/headphones, powered by Fediverser software running on alien.top. Responses to this submission will not be seen by the original author until they claim ownership of their alien.top account. Please consider reaching out to them let them know about this post and help them migrate to Lemmy.

Lemmy users: you are still very much encouraged to participate in the discussion. There are still many other subscribers on !headphones@hi-fi.community that can benefit from your contribution and join in the conversation.

Reddit users: you can also join the fediverse right away by getting by visiting https://portal.alien.top. If you are looking for a Reddit alternative made for and by an independent community, check out Fediverser.

[–] dongas420@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

accurate replication of the intended record sound/a realistic stereo image

No fully agreed-upon definition for either of these as far as headphones go, especially not for the latter. Saying all you have to do is accurately simulate human HRTF and PRTF is easy, actually doing it is not. Trying to jam an approximation of loudspeaker acoustics into a pair of ear cups also leads to design compromises needing to be made. Manufacturers like Hifiman, Sennheiser, and DCA do try to tune to their own target curves that they believe sound neutral, and many headphones do feature angled drivers and such to attempt to replicate speaker/ear interaction.

[–] DJGammaRabbit@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Flat sounds mid focused. You enjoy one thing with it.

Boosted bass and highs lets you enjoy two things. A double whammy.