It seems these days that a target curve is a requirement if you are going to do an audio review. And to be honest, I don't put a lot of thought into them. But a target curve does serve a purpose so I have finally created a target curve for your viewing pleasure.
As an audiophile, I seek an accurate, reproduction of real life instruments and vocals. I enjoy critiquing each listening moment, dissecting the music through the gear, listening for naturalism and realism. My personal preference is in line with this target curve so you can say this is a two-for-one target curve. I created the Honest Target curve that reflects what I believe is how a neutral and natural sound in headphones and IEM's should look like on a graph.
Keep in mind, this is just a target so gear should reflect a similar curve but doesn't need to be spot-on to be considered neutral and natural. There are a lot of variables besides a target curve when it comes reproducing sound.
I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
Let's take a closer look at the Honest Target Curve.
Bass Range - 20hz-300hz
lower bass 20hz-80hz
mid bass 80hz-150hz
upper bass 150hz-300hz
Mid Range - 300hz-8k
lower mids - 300hz-1k
main mids - 1k-5k
upper mids - 5k-8k (presence range)
Treble Range - 8k-20k
lower treble - 8k-10k
main treble - 10k-14k
upper treble - 14k-20k
The average human ear hears between 20hz and 20k. Human ears hear the mids (80hz-8k) the most so it is no surprise that the majority of instrument and vocal fundamental frequencies are in that range. The human ear is most sensitive between 2k-5k. There is degradation of hearing that occurs with age, exposure to damaging volumes and many other factors.
Natural - Realism; reproduced sound that matches every day, real life audio.
Neutral - Reproduced sound that is free of coloration that is not natural.
Air - Reproducing audio in a free, open and fresh manner around instruments and vocalists. Air is not restricted only to the upper treble frequencies but is audible in the entire frequency range.
Detail - Reproduced images of the original sound.
Definition/Resolution/Focus - Quality of a reproduced detail that is clearly defined with sharp, edged images. Enables the listener to distinguish between and/or follow the melodic lines of the individual voices and/or instruments.
Tone - The actual note of the music being played; is the reproduced note in key and in tune.
Tonal Quality - The quality of the reproduced note; sounds accurate and correct.
Timbre - Reproduction of recognizable characteristics of an instrument, allows the listener to determine or differentiate between instruments or to follow them throughout a musical piece.
I created the Honest Target Curve according to how I think that a neutral and natural sound would reflect on a graph if my ears were measured. I seek a neutral, natural reproduction of tone, timbre, air, details and resolution. I believe that gear that resembles similarities to this target curve will provide those sound qualities.
I want to thank Stephen (HobbyTalk) for helping create the target curve and for putting it on his target curve squig link.
Honest Target Curve: https://hobbytalk.squig.link/?share=Honest_Target
HobbyTalk: https://www.youtube.com/@HobbyTalk
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalkDbs @TalkDbs
Website: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com
YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgMj7xJ1SDxGqqxZ5l3g_jg/join
The Honest Audiophile research/review process: https://youtu.be/UkSnoZZNyYc
Tierlist:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=sharing
Audio Terms/Definitions: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/the-honest-audiophile-s-terms-and-definitions-guide
Recommended Gear:
Rosson Audio Design RAD-0: http://www.rossonaudiodesign.com/
Meze Empyrean: https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-empyrean
Hifiman Ananda: https://hifiman.com/products/detail/290
Sennheiser HD660s: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/hd-660-s
MrSpeakers Ether C (non flow version) https://danclarkaudio.com/
(similar to:) https://drop.com/buy/drop-mrspeakers-ether-cx-closed-headphones?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
Aueze LCD 2 Closed: LCD-2 Closed Back (audeze.com)
CTM Da Vinci X: https://cleartunemonitors.com/products/da-vinci-x-universal
Tin Hifi T3 Plus:TINHIFI T3 PLUS 10mm LCP Diaphragm Hi-Fi Earphone – Linsoul Audio
Tin Hifi T2: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t2?_pos=1&_sid=7cddd72dc&_ss=r&variant=34447375302811
Moondrop SSR: https://www.moondroplab.com/ssr
Sony NW-A105: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwa105-b
Sony NW-WM-1a: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwwm1a
Mytek Liberty DAC ii: https://mytek.audio/shop/lbrt-dac-ii-287#attr=
HeadAmp GSX-Mini: https://www.headamp.com/products/gs-x-mini
Soekris DAC1421: https://soekris.modhouseaudio.com/soekris-audiophile-line/dac-1421
Tor Audio Roger: https://toraudio.com/main.html#
Schiit Auido BiFrost 2: https://schiit.com/products/bi-frost-1
Massdrop THX AAA 789:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
Massdrop THX AAA One Linear: https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-one-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
Massdrop Grace Design SDAC-B: https://drop.com/buy/drop-grace-design-standard-dac-balanced?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
Test Tracks: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/does-your-music-preference-impact-your-sound-impressions
Tingvall Trio “Beat” - piano tonality
Sinne Eeg “We’ve Just Begun” - multiple layer soundstage
Molly Johnson “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” - female vocal tone
Leslie Odom Jr. “Under Pressure” - male vocal tone
Eric Clapton “Change the World” - soundstage, layering and placement
Yo Yo Ma “Ecstasy of Gold” - acoustic instrument timbre
Adam Baldych “Spem in Alium” - acoustic instrument timbre
Pain of Salvation “Stress” - bass and percussion balance
Michael Buble “When I Fall in Love” - orchestral dynamics
Patricia Barber “Code Cool” - sibilance check
Christian Scott “New New Orleans” - shouty upper mids
Tool “Chocolate Chip Trip” - imaging
Hans Zimmer “Why So Serious” - sub bass extension
Marcus Miller “No Limit” - bass control
Dave Holland Quartet “Conference Of The Birds”- bass check
Ilhan Eshkeri “47 Ronin”- orchestra and bass dynamics
Hans Zimmer: “2049” - sub bass extension
Cher: “Believe” - sibilance
Stanley Clarke - “Passenger 57 main title” - percussion, bass, separation and placement
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra - “The Pine of the Appian Way” - soundstage, imaging, separation, dynamic range
Houston Person - “You are my Sunshine” - tone and timbre
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