|
Post by monkumonku on Oct 29, 2023 11:29:14 GMT -5
In the below video, Paul McGowan of PS Audio answers a viewers question. The question is, if we suffer high frequency hearing loss as we age, should be get brighter speakers to compensate?
He says no, because our brain makes the adjustments for us.
Now what I am wondering - let's say in our younger days we could hear a 14Khz tone and, having perfect pitch, remembered what it sounded like. Now in our older days, our high frequency ability has declined and we can't hear anything over 10Khz. Will our memory and brain still be able to "hear" (recall) what a 14Khz tone sounds like, even though we aren't physically capable of perceiving it anymore?
|
|
|
Post by PaulBe on Oct 29, 2023 12:14:09 GMT -5
In the below video, Paul McGowan of PS Audio answers a viewers question. The question is, if we suffer high frequency hearing loss as we age, should be get brighter speakers to compensate? He says no, because our brain makes the adjustments for us. Now what I am wondering - let's say in our younger days we could hear a 14Khz tone and, having perfect pitch, remembered what it sounded like. Now in our older days, our high frequency ability has declined and we can't hear anything over 10Khz. Will our memory and brain still be able to "hear" (recall) what a 14Khz tone sounds like, even though we aren't physically capable of perceiving it anymore? I tend to agree with Paul McGowan here. Being able to hear divisions of 14Khz is enough to make me remember what 14Khz sounds like. We can all make octave jumps in our head; also arpeggios, scales, and other chord progressions. We remember the sound character of any sound that becomes familiar. I can sing a lot better in my head than when using my voice.
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Oct 29, 2023 12:22:35 GMT -5
I contend that your answer is "no." We should NOT make our speakers brighter to compensate for hearing loss.
Studies have shown that memory of audio is poor. That said, if the amplitude of a HF sound is sufficiently loud, you WILL hear it, despite your HF hearing loss. I've a friend who suffers at the dentist due to the amplitude of the HF sounds of the dental instruments. The dental hygienist told him that he shouldn't be able to hear that frequency, but he not only could, but also found it painful. The proximity combined with the amplitude allowed him to hear what his hearing exam said he couldn't.
I do agree with Mr. McGowan, though. Our brains DO compensate for what our ears are no longer sending. I can instantly tell, for example, whether a guitar recording has nylon or steel strings, flat-wound or regular strings, light-gauge or heavy-gauge strings, and whether the player is using fingers or a pick. And my audiogram essentially says that I'm deaf above 10Khz.
Boomzilla
|
|