Neutral electronics are a farce...

The human ear is tuned to be the most sensitive at bird-song frequencies. It also uses higher ordered harmonics to calculate how loud a sound is- its not doing that from the fundamental frequencies as such are quite rare in a pure form in nature. So if the system generates these harmonics (5th and above) even in trace amounts our ears are so sensitive to them that they will be heard, even though the distortion of the amp might be 0.005% THD.

The converts distortion into tonality. So the presence of these distortions is heard as both brightness and harshness (the 7th in particular having been known since the 1930s as a source of a metallic coloration), even though on the bench or in the room the system might measure perfectly flat.

In fact the ear has tipping points wherein tonalities created by distortion can be favored over actual frequency response errors. So in some cases its better to have none of these distortions rather than perfectly flat frequency response. 

Hi Mapman,

Yes, consistent with Ralph’s response it’s certainly true that our hearing mechanisms do not respond equally to all frequencies. And as shown in the chart you referenced their deviation from flatness is different at different volume levels.

And so distortion components, noise components, and deviations from flat frequency response will be objectionable to a degree that varies widely depending on where in the spectrum they occur.

But an obvious point that nevertheless seems worth stating is that our hearing mechanisms have the same characteristics, including lack of flatness, when we listen to live music as when we listen to our audio systems, at least if volume levels are similar. So while an understanding of the hearing characteristics you (and Ralph) cited can be important in prioritizing the kinds of distortions and colorations that are most important to minimize, we also don’t want to have the system introduce colorations (i.e., deviations from neutrality) that "correct" our hearing. Assuming, of course, that our hearing is functioning normally.

As you said earlier in the thread, "if neutral = accurate then sign me up."

Best regards,
-- Al

Al I agree with all your points.

I want my recorded music to convince me it's live, warts and all.   So I want it to be neutral and accurate. 

If it sounds any way all the time, even smooth and relaxing, that is not a good thing to me.  Its not good either if the sound is continuously irritating and  chases me out of the room.  Its OK if some recordings are and come out that way.

I know all is well when I hear a lot of variety and want to just keep on listening rather than wanting to turn it off.   Only in recent years have I achieved that.

If it sounds any way all the time, even smooth and relaxing, that is not a good thing to me. Its not good either if the sound is continuously irritating and chases me out of the room. Its OK if some recordings are and come out that way.

I agree fully!

I'm only speaking for myself of course but IMO audiophiles tend to over analyze this kind of stuff too much. It's only natural considering the money involved. I've given up the need to over analyze frequencies or any other such stuff to come to a conclusion about my gear. The only thing that maters is what sounds neutral to me.  In the end It may not sound neutral to anyone else. In the search for "neutrality" you can go and blame the electronics, the electricity from the walls, the rotation of the earth for that matter. Your chasing a perfect circle. Meaning it's a concept that cannot truly be achieved. So the only person you have to convince is yourself. None of it amounts to anything unless you like it yourself. All this talk about what is and what isn't neutral is a waist of time IMO - interesting to talk about but ultimately a black hole for your time. We are all trying to achieve a sound the we - individually - like so there can never be one truth about any of this stuff. Just groups of people who cluster together at different points of the spectrum of what they consider correct. We all intuitively know this but I guess we are gluttons for punishment cause we keep going in circles about it. 😜