If the Frequency Response between two speakers mention these figures
For the first one it says : Frequency Response-51Hz – 36kHz ±3dB on reference axis (Frequency range -6dB at 36Hz and 42kHz )
And for the second one it says : Frequency Reponses-45Hz-24KHz +/-3dB/useable bass to 40Hz (f6)
What is it supposed to mean ?
Which one would have better output going by those figures ? How does one interpret it ?
Thanks
OK, I'm not an expert, but I like plain talking. I'll give it a shot, and the real experts here can correct me if I'm wrong.
1) 3db is generally considered the smallest change in volume that a person can distinguish. So when they give a rating and say "+/- 3dB", they mean the speaker will reproduce these frequencies at a constant enough level that you probably can't hear any deviations.
2) People with very, VERY, good hearing can hear a low of 20Hz and a high of 20kHz. The truth is that very few can hear up to 20kHz, and the older you get the lower your limit becomes. I'm 59 and can't hear above about 10k Hz.
On the other side, you can hear pretty low frequencies. And beyond the level you can hear, you can still feel. On a piano, the very lowest note is 27Hz, middle C is 261Hz, and the very highest note is 4.2kHz. Likely, you can easily hear the lowest note on a piano, thunder/explosions on TV/Movies goes below that, and even below 20Hz you can feel the rumble/thump/shock wave.
So let's look at your speakers.
Frequency Response-51Hz – 36kHz ±3dB
>This speaker can reproduce sounds between 51Hz and 36kHz with a level of volume accuracy such that you probably can't tell that any frequency is noticeably louder or softer, (+/- 3dB).
> On the low end, volume starts dropping off below 51Hz. "Frequency range -6dB at 36Hz", means from 51Hz down to 36Hz, the volume is dropping at a rate that hits -6dB at 36Hz. It is enough to notice that the low end of music/TV/movies does not have strong bass.
> On the high end, volume starts dropping off above 36kHz. "Frequency range -6dB at 42kHz", means from 36kHz to 42kHz, the volume is dropping at a rate that hits -6dB at 42kHz. Who cares? If the best of us can't hear above 20kHz, who cares if your speaker starts having trouble at 36kHz?
Your second speaker says: "Frequency Reponses-45Hz-24KHz +/-3dB/useable bass to 40Hz (f6)"
Use the same logic as above. Below 45Hz, the volume starts dropping at a rate that hits -6dB at 40Hz. They don't say what happens above 24kHz... I guess because it doesn't matter.
Hopefully this helps you understand a little about how to read the specs. But you still have to decide for yourself which is "better".
Within the +/- 3dB area, (which is standard for saying "This is the area within which you can't hear any difference"), speaker B goes a little deeper, (45 vs 51Hz). However, you CAN still hear something that is 6dB softer, it's just softer. And speaker A goes a little deeper in the -6dB point, (36 vs 40Hz).
Summary:
1) Try to listen to them both and decide which you like better. There is A LOT more to how good a speaker sounds than just frequency response.
2) You need a subwoofer regardless of which speakers you chose.
