Frequency Responce: Amplifier Vs. Speaker

[needaglock]

Quick n00b question for you all. If I have speakers with a frequency responce of up to 35 kHz, and an amplifier with a frequencey responce listed as 20 Hz - 20 kHz, am I losing information at the higher frequencies? Is there a point to speakers with a higher frequency range, when many of the amps out there only go up to 20kHz? Thanks.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Quick n00b question for you all. If I have speakers with a frequency responce of up to 35 kHz, and an amplifier with a frequencey responce listed as 20 Hz - 20 kHz, am I losing information at the higher frequencies? Is there a point to speakers with a higher frequency range, when many of the amps out there only go up to 20kHz? Thanks.

Firstly, have you had a hearing test to see if you can even hear 20kHz?

I am willing to bet you cannot.

No, you will not be loosing anything. The amp spec is the normal bandwidth they spec but it will respond well beyond 20kHz with a bit more departure from usually ruler flat.

It has not been demonstrated in a credible manner that we can hear beyond 20kHz. Yes, a few people can hear 20kHz, a fewer still a bit above this. However, the thresholds at these frequencies are over 100 dB spl and music while showing in a measurable manner harmonics well above 20kHz, this level is well below the threshold of detection, hence, those few, the right side of the Bell curve, way out on the right side, will never hear it either.

 

[Swerd]

If I have speakers with a frequency responce of up to 35 kHz, and an amplifier with a frequencey responce listed as 20 Hz - 20 kHz, am I losing information at the higher frequencies? Is there a point to speakers with a higher frequency range, when many of the amps out there only go up to 20kHz? Thanks.

mtrycrafts is right.

Many amplifiers have frequency response that go much higher than 20 kHz. Usually when measurements are made of an amp's power output and distortion, measuringing stops at 20 kHz. Above 20 kHz may look nice on paper, but it is simply not relevant to audio for human ears.

What speakers with a frequency response up to 35 kHz are you talking about? There are some ribbon tweeters that go as high as 60 kHz. They're very expensive, and are said to sound quite nice. But no one who knows about speakers and acoustics claims that their performance above 20 kHz is the reason for this.

The highest primary notes in music are about 5 kHz. The two octaves above that, 5-20 kHz, contain only harmonic overtones. They are important, but not nearly as important to treble sound as is the 2.5-5 kHz range.

Most 1" dome tweeters start falling off in response somewhat below 20 kHz. Some tweeters, especially the metal domes, have large breakup noise peaks in the 20-30 kHz range. You really wouldn't want to hear that noise, even if your ears could respond in that range.

In addition, CDs do not contain material above roughly 20 kHz.

 

[needaglock]

mtrycrafts is right.

Many amplifiers have frequency response that go much higher than 20 kHz. Usually when measurements are made of an amp's power output and distortion, measuringing stops at 20 kHz. Above 20 kHz may look nice on paper, but it is simply not relevant to audio for human ears.

What speakers with a frequency response up to 35 kHz are you talking about? There are some ribbon tweeters that go as high as 60 kHz. They're very expensive, and are said to sound quite nice. But no one who knows about speakers and acoustics claims that their performance above 20 kHz is the reason for this.

The highest primary notes in music are about 5 kHz. The two octaves above that, 5-20 kHz, contain only harmonic overtones. They are important, but not nearly as important to treble sound as is the 2.5-5 kHz range.

Most 1" dome tweeters start falling off in response somewhat below 20 kHz. Some tweeters, especially the metal domes, have large breakup noise peaks in the 20-30 kHz range. You really wouldn't want to hear that noise, even if your ears could respond in that range.

In addition, CDs do not contain material above roughly 20 kHz.

Thank you for the clarification. I have a full set of older Infinities with the Emit-r tweeters.

 

[Ampdog]

Just about everything said. Only to perhaps add that the response of a loudspeaker in the audible region is far more important than how far it can go (if such info can be trusted - sorry for the scepticism, but experience has taught ....)

Also similarly for amplifiers (although this was not your question). Frequency response far wider than the audio band is usually the spin-off of any properly designed amplifier. The distortion performance etc. is the audible factor.