On Wed, Jul 12, 2000 at 05:15:38PM +0000, Shawn Riley ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote
> I think my headphones have a better frequency response than my
> parents' hi-fi system which cost A$2500, & incidentally the
> headphones came free with the system. The hi-fi system seems to have
> a very heavy hump around 60Hz (estimated, not measured) in
> comparison to the headphones.
Stereo systems are much more difficult to set up than headphones.
With headphones, you strap them on your head, and the outside
environment doesn't matter much (unless it's a very noisy
environment). With speakers, room acoustics play a major role in not
just a (semi) flat frequency response, but also in stereo imaging.
Rooms dimentions and speaker positions can have serious effects on
bass response. I'd bet that walking around your parents' stereo, you
can find locations that seem to have a 60Hz dip as well -- there are
probably room nodes with both high and low pressure. Also, putting
speakers too close to the rear (or even side) walls can give a 6dB
boost to bass, and "muddy" the upper frequencies. Having the speakers
the same distance from the rear and side walls can also be bad. In
small rooms, the lower frequencies get a 12dB per octave boost. There
are a myriad of other issues as well.
All in all, you can get good frequency response, detail and all the
other qualities out of a home stereo that you get out of good head
phones -- it just takes more dedication and 'tweaking' (and a lot more
money) than strapping the headphones on.
A stereo freak,
John
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