Glossary
Frequency response
The range and balance of audio frequencies a driver or speaker can reproduce, measured in Hz. A flat response from 20 Hz–20 kHz is the studio-monitor ideal.
Frequency response describes both extension (how low/high a driver reaches) and balance (how loud each frequency is relative to the rest).
The audible range
Human hearing covers 20 Hz–20 kHz when young; the high end drops with age (most adults plateau around 15 kHz).
Common tuning targets
- Studio monitor — flat ±2 dB from 50 Hz–18 kHz.
- Harman target — research-derived consumer-headphone curve with bass boost and a small treble dip.
- V-shape — boosted bass and treble, scooped mids. Common in consumer EDM-friendly tunings.
Spec-sheet honesty
A "20 Hz–40 kHz" rating tells you nothing without a tolerance window (±3 dB, ±10 dB). A driver might "reach" 20 Hz at -25 dB — technically true, audibly silent.
Where this matters
Categories that use frequency response
Continue reading