How We Achieved Smooth High-Frequency Sound
A common question we get is “do your speakers have smooth highs” and “are your tweeters fatiguing?” The short answer is that our signature sound is remarkably smooth and composed, even at higher listening levels. Let’s break down how we achieved that below.
How We Perceive Loudness
Believe it or not, loudness is a bit ambiguous, but we can be safe in saying that loudness is the subjective perception of how changes in amplitude take place. So as something becomes louder, the amplitude (i.e. SPL or volume) increases. The question is, as something gets louder, can it remain pleasant to listen to?
Ear Fatigue
Some speakers induce ear fatigue the louder they are played. This is typically on speakers that emphasize high-frequency sound waves. These speakers initially seem to have a lot of detail, but over time tend to make your ears tired.
Smooth Highs
What is heard in the higher frequencies is a complicated cocktail of material choice, the geometry of their parts, the crossover network, and the waveguide design. While we cannot reveal our secret sauce, our custom waveguide no doubt helps maintain a balanced high-frequency dispersion as one moves off-axis. This, in tandem with our other design choices, through rigorous trial and error, resulted in the smooth high-frequency sound our customers enjoy today.
