Comments on: Maximo iMetal iPhone Headsets http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/04/01/maximo_imetal_iphone_headsets/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sat, 26 May 2012 21:11:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Bri http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/04/01/maximo_imetal_iphone_headsets/comment-page-1/#comment-106761 Bri Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:19:03 +0000 #comment-106761 In response to DMS: The honest way to designate frequency response is the range ± 3dB (plus or minus 3 decibels). This manufacturer may or may not be honest. A lot of people assume the best when reading such specifications, but since many manufacturers choose to leave out that little detail about the roll-off at the low and high ends of the frequency response, one suspects that they leave it out for self-serving purposes, not for the benefit of potential customers. It might be worthwhile querying the manufacturer directly on this matter before making a purchase. However, regardless of how much of the named sound spectrum can actually be heard by a given individual at any volume, the sensible rule of thumb is that the broader the spectrum, the better. A practical reason for this is that as a general rule, components that honestly reproduce a broader sound spectrum will tend to have a flatter frequency response over a greater part of the spectrum reproduced. The roll-off at the upper and lower frequencies will be there regardless of the frequency range. So, if you can get earbuds (or speakers for your living room) that don't have serious dips in frequency response within your range of hearing, you are ahead of the game. In other words, even if you can't hear sound at 20 Hz, but you can at, say, 30 Hz or 40 Hz, you will be better off if your speaker's response dips more than 3 dB at 20 Hz than if it does so at 30 Hz, where you will actually be able to hear the difference. In response to DMS: The honest way to designate frequency response is the range ± 3dB (plus or minus 3 decibels). This manufacturer may or may not be honest.
A lot of people assume the best when reading such specifications, but since many manufacturers choose to leave out that little detail about the roll-off at the low and high ends of the frequency response, one suspects that they leave it out for self-serving purposes, not for the benefit of potential customers.
It might be worthwhile querying the manufacturer directly on this matter before making a purchase.
However, regardless of how much of the named sound spectrum can actually be heard by a given individual at any volume, the sensible rule of thumb is that the broader the spectrum, the better. A practical reason for this is that as a general rule, components that honestly reproduce a broader sound spectrum will tend to have a flatter frequency response over a greater part of the spectrum reproduced.
The roll-off at the upper and lower frequencies will be there regardless of the frequency range. So, if you can get earbuds (or speakers for your living room) that don’t have serious dips in frequency response within your range of hearing, you are ahead of the game. In other words, even if you can’t hear sound at 20 Hz, but you can at, say, 30 Hz or 40 Hz, you will be better off if your speaker’s response dips more than 3 dB at 20 Hz than if it does so at 30 Hz, where you will actually be able to hear the difference.

]]> By: DMS http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/04/01/maximo_imetal_iphone_headsets/comment-page-1/#comment-24917 DMS Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:48:55 +0000 #comment-24917 <p>Three comments on the alleged 18 - 22,000 Hz frequency response claimed by these headphones - </p> <p>1) Frequency response is meaningless unless you show the response curve. The rolloff at the low and high ends is probably so much that there is essentially no low or high frequency response;</p> <p>2) CDs andf other program sources have essentially no output at the low and high frequency ends so that if the headphones really did have any sort of response at these limits, the program sources do not have any output there;</p> <p>3) The human ear does not have any ability to hear a 22,000 Hz tone and very limited ability (if any) to hear an 18 Hz tone so, again, response at this range is useless. Most young people have caused enough damage to their ears that they have reduced hearing ability and older people have high end hearing loss as a natural part of aging.</p> <p>Bottom line - these earphones may sound good but the specs are useless lies.</p> <p>DON</p> Three comments on the alleged 18 – 22,000 Hz frequency response claimed by these headphones –

1) Frequency response is meaningless unless you show the response curve. The rolloff at the low and high ends is probably so much that there is essentially no low or high frequency response;

2) CDs andf other program sources have essentially no output at the low and high frequency ends so that if the headphones really did have any sort of response at these limits, the program sources do not have any output there;

3) The human ear does not have any ability to hear a 22,000 Hz tone and very limited ability (if any) to hear an 18 Hz tone so, again, response at this range is useless. Most young people have caused enough damage to their ears that they have reduced hearing ability and older people have high end hearing loss as a natural part of aging.

Bottom line – these earphones may sound good but the specs are useless lies.

DON

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/04/01/maximo_imetal_iphone_headsets/comment-page-1/#comment-24916 Julie Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:52:50 +0000 #comment-24916 <p>carly:</p> <p>Thanks for the tip on altec-lansing. I'll try to get a pair to try out.</p> carly:

Thanks for the tip on altec-lansing. I’ll try to get a pair to try out.

]]> By: carly http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/04/01/maximo_imetal_iphone_headsets/comment-page-1/#comment-24915 carly Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:05:34 +0000 #comment-24915 <p>These look nice! I will say though, the Apple Stores carry a decent pair of altec-lansing headphones called "airphones" which are designed for athletes who need to be able to hear while running, biking, etc. Not only are they great for athletics, if you use your headphones as a handsfree, it's safe to drive with them because you're not blocking outside noises. </p> These look nice! I will say though, the Apple Stores carry a decent pair of altec-lansing headphones called “airphones” which are designed for athletes who need to be able to hear while running, biking, etc. Not only are they great for athletics, if you use your headphones as a handsfree, it’s safe to drive with them because you’re not blocking outside noises.

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