Whether to do anything about the limitations of our ears


In the thread 'How do you listen?' appears the following:

"We do not hear all frequencies equally well at all volume levels. Low bass and high treble in particular need to be at a fairly high level to be heard at all."

This asks a big question:

Should we listen as our ears hear, with their inability to apprehend all audio band frequencies at the same intensity? As we are of course compelled to do when listening to live music.

Or when listening to recorded music should we adjust the intensity of particular frequencies we don't hear so well?  This will of course give a different presentation from what we hear live.

Or, to put it a different way, should audio manufacturers design equipment to present the frequency range as flat as a microphone perceives it, or as our ears perceive it?

But a microphone is just another flawed ear, with its own imperfections as regards intensity across the audio frequency range (and others of course).

Or, again: a flat response can be flat only as the means of listening presents it.



128x128clearthinker
For me it is VERY simple. If I don't like what I'm hearing I change it. I don't care what it originally sounded like. I don't play music to please the person who produced the music, it's quite the opposite for me.

If that means a smiley face or a frown or + 10db from 8khz up with an EQ, my system is there to please me and who ever is there with me. 

There are no RULES in the stereo world. Just like there is NO cryin' in baseball, BUT two ears that work (ok), tone control and added bass (correction) sure works for me..

I'm actually having a balanced big valve EQ made and looking real hard at an Active valve (tube) crossover. No rules, RULE!!

Regards
For me it is VERY simple. If I don’t like what I’m hearing I change it. I don’t care what it originally sounded like. I don’t play music to please the person who produced the music, it’s quite the opposite for me.
I think the same....

Old mechanic with dirty hands are more than often right because they are accustomed to use and plays with laws more than just obey to them ...
😊😊😊😊😊

As mahgister & oldhvymec say (or should I say sezez). You listen to your stereo to please yourself.  It ain't a visit to the ear doctor.
op

two points to raise in reply to your op above, in the spirit of discussion...

1. achieving a flat, in phase response, at the prime listening position in a room/system setup is a laudable goal, if for no other reason than for the listener to judge/realize that some deviation from this ideal may make the music as presented seem more ’beautiful’ or ’real’ subjectively -- i have not tried to dabble in this pursuit myself, but at least regarding frequency response, this is what a lot of the room correction tech in modern gear attempts to enable

2. on a subjective basis, when it comes to voicing of hifi components (and most prominently speakers), there is some agreement that numerous successful but aging designers are releasing newer products that have greater/too much treble energy (as they personally are experiencing a reduction in their ability to hear higher and mid treble frequencies, but have yet to admit that, and still insist on personally voicing their gear) -- folks such as richard vandersteen, mike/jason at schiit, frank van alstine, and david belles have all been ’accused’ of this...
having owned Vandy 3a-sig, 5a and 7 mk2 spanning some 20 years, i can assure you RV’s speakers are super flat in room. BTW Earthworks mics, good as they are are NOT good enough for Vandy production quality control against the reference each speaker is produced…