Headphones (Hearing) & Age

22

It’s still possible for a headphone’s higher frequencies to affect frequencies within the audible range, whether due to phase interactions or other artifacts. But I kind of doubt whether these things can be predicted. I’d also guess that as much as if not more than anything else these effects would be listener-dependent.

In my own case, I don’t think I can hear above 12k – at least not at normal listening volume – and I don’t pay much attention to frequency response or EQ above that level. But I did give up on it without testing. You might try using EQ above 12k and seeing if you can hear a difference.

The effect you’re hearing at 22kHz is probably due to aliasing. (No offense! 22k is typically lost by your late 20s.) Try the test on this site where you can perform an aliasing test: Extended High Frequency Online Hearing Test | 8-22 kHz

23

I couldn’t hear anything beyond 11khz on that sample. Using Audio Cardio in a quiet room and headphones I can just make out 12khz at 54dbr on the left and 42dbr on the right.

The app I mentioned is Frequency Sound Generator off the Google Play store and it’s the square wave I can easily hear all the way up. The sawtooth, sinewave and triangle are inaudible.

Thanks for the refrence to audiocheck.net, quite an interesting site.

I paid for 1 month of AudioCardio and after a couple of weeks I started to be able to hear a bit of the test tone so retook the test and got a few dbr better.
I will keep using it, I’ve heard the effects don’t start for a while. I’ve been using it 2 weeks so far.

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24

  1. Test systems must be validated and calibrated. I have little confidence in the accuracy of test tones at the upper extreme, as many headphones either cannot generate high frequencies or turn all sound into randomized noisy spray. Also, some (cheaper delta-sigma) DACs may generate much louder treble artifacts than others. I also think your sawtooth result is a simple artifact (see @Spearthrower_Owl).

  2. You (and many of us) likely cannot hear a bloody thing above 12k. That zone is heading into pure air. On the bright side, the worst piercing sounds are going away forever. :roll_eyes:

  3. Check out AudioNotch - Tinnitus Treatment Sound Therapy - Tuner and Tone Generator for a free hearing test tone sweep tool. AudioNotch markets customized tinnitus software.

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