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AntOk463 t1_ja28ouz wrote

I don't think they care about the exact frequency you can hear, it's probably more general like "high frequencies" or "sounds over 15k hz." Also they play a single tone and they are only testing the presence of sound and not how loud you hear it. So they do not have to be high quality or have a flat frequency response. They just need headphones that can play the required tones.

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minnesotajersey OP t1_ja3i4qs wrote

My thought process is that if you have a headphone with sloppy frequency response, then you are not getting a true idea of what the person can hear. It would be like using a bad microphone to test a “perfect” speaker. The microphone will make it seem like the speaker response is poor. Bad earphones in a hearing test would be the obverse.

I hope I’m saying that in a way that makes sense.

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zoinkability t1_ja60slw wrote

Since they are pairing them with software that can presumably compensate for any non-flatness to the frequency response, all that matters is that their FR be well characterized and that it be capable of producing the requisite volume at all frequencies. They probably also have a precise understanding of the amp involved so that they know the exact volume that a certain level signal will produce at any given frequency.

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[deleted] t1_ja5moh6 wrote

[deleted]

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DavePrivee t1_ja5o3sh wrote

Or more clearly, they care very much about frequency and loudness, but not pleasant musical reproduction.

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