What is an Honest Target Curve?

dbstechtalk
Feb 19, 2023
9 min read

Updated: Dec 22, 2025

It appears that having a target curve is now essential for conducting an audio review. Honestly, I haven't given them much consideration. However, a target curve does have its uses, so I've created one for you to see.

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 curve 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.

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 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.

I created the Honest Target Curve according to how I think that a neutral and natural sound should reflect on a graph. 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.

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

A target curve is only useful if it reflects the listener behind it. Mine isn’t about trends or copying someone else’s tuning. It’s a visual representation of what I consider truthful, faithful reproduction. I listen to my reference tracks and compare the performance of the product to how it sounds to my Honest Target Curve based on my ears as I do not use any measurement gear. My reference point is real acoustic instruments, not tuning curves

Balanced Frequency Response → Overall Shape

My curve reflects the same balance I look for when listening.

Midrange - Natural Timbre → Midrange Foundation - 300hz-8k

Mid Range - 300hz-8k
lower mids - 300hz-1k
main mids - 1k-5k
upper mids - 5k-8k (presence range)
Clean and transparent
Free of warmth coloration
Accurate in note weight
Natural in timbre
Unobstructed by bass or treble
This is a midrange that reveals the soul of acoustic and orchestral instruments without adding thickness or forwardness.

Because natural timbre is so important to me, the midrange of my curve stays balanced and lifelike and that is what I seek in a product. No dips for fake clarity. No boosts that push vocals and instruments unnaturally forward.

Just honest, accurate mids — because that’s where most music lives.

True-to-life timbre (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.)

Accurate harmonic structure

Believable density and body

No plasticky or metallic coloration

Bass - 20hz-300hz

lower bass 20hz-80hz
mid bass 80hz-150hz
upper bass 150hz-300hz
Extended into true sub‑bass
Tight and controlled with no bloom
Textured and physical with real instrument body
Naturally decaying, not overly damped
Zero bleed into the mids
This is bass that behaves like real acoustic instruments — weighty, clean, and truthful.

Treble - 8k-20k

Smooth, extended, and natural. No sharp peaks, no forced “air,” no artificial sparkle.

lower treble - 8k-10k
main treble - 10k-14k
upper treble - 14k-20k
Airy and extended for openness and vertical space
Grounded — no artificial brightness, excessive hotness or glare
Naturally crisp with real bite and edge
Precise in attack but never harsh
Harmonically complete, revealing upper overtones
This is a treble that illuminates the stage without spotlighting it.

The curve mirrors the neutrality and naturalness I prefer.

Realistic Staging → Preserving Spatial Integrity

A target curve can’t create staging, but it can absolutely preserve it.

My curve avoids:

treble peaks that create fake width
midbass bloat that collapses depth
midbass tuck that thins noteweight
upper‑mid exaggeration that pushes everything forward

By keeping the spectrum balanced, the curve lets the recording define the space — not the tuning.

Dynamic Expression → Clean, Unmasked Spectrum

Dynamics thrive when nothing is masking anything else. My curve supports that by keeping the frequency response clean and natural.

No bloated bass compressing the sound.

No harsh treble stealing attention.

Just honest dynamic expression.

Emotional Immersion → The Purpose Behind It All

Ultimately, my target curve is about connection. It’s the technical outline of my ideal sound signature.

Neutral.

Natural.

Realistic.

Immersive.

That’s the sound I chase, and that’s the sound my curve represents.

Song Examples

BASS Example Track

Otis Taylor – “Sunday Morning (A)”

Why this is the best choice:

I explicitly listen for bass control, depth, note weight, and layering.
The track has deep, earthy bass that exposes bloom, looseness, or lack of texture instantly.
It’s natural, not synthetic — perfect for my “neutral + natural” philosophy.

Backup options:

Petra – “Jekyll & Hyde” (bass impact)
Hans Zimmer – “Lost But Won” (bass impact + dynamics)

MIDS Example Track

Sinne Eeg – “We’ve Just Begun”

Why this is the best choice:

I listen for female vocal tone and timbre, stage depth, layering, and imaging.
Her voice sits right in the heart of the midrange and exposes any coloration immediately.
The arrangement is sparse enough to reveal midrange honesty.

Backup options:

Molly Johnson – “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” (female vocal mids + piano mids)
Michael Bublé – “When I Fall in Love” (male vocal mids + dynamics)

TREBLE Example Track

Patricia Barber – “Code Cool”

Why this is the best choice:

I literally warn that this track is painful on most gear because of treble energy.
It exposes sibilance, hot treble, and upper‑treble harshness instantly.
Perfect for demonstrating what natural treble should sound like.

Backup options:

Christian Scott – “New New Orleans” (upper mids/lower treble sharpness)
Cher – “Believe” (sibilance + treble distortion)

STAGE WIDTH Example Track

Tool – “Chocolate Chip Trip”

Why this is the best choice:

I listen for imaging precision, stage width, depth, and layering.
The panning and spatial cues are extreme and intentional.
It reveals whether width is natural or artificially stretched.

Backup options:

Dave Holland Quartet – “Conference of the Birds” (natural acoustic width)
The Eagles – “Hotel California (Live)” (wide live venue cues)

STAGE DEPTH Example Track

Sinne Eeg – “We’ve Just Begun”

Why this is the best choice:

I explicitly note accurate stage depth as a key listening point.
Her voice sits forward while the band sits behind her — perfect for depth testing.
Subtle reverbs and room cues reveal front‑to‑back layering.

Backup options:

Michael Bublé – “When I Fall in Love” (depth + layering)
Ilhan Eshkeri – “47 Ronin” (cinematic depth + orchestral layering)

LAYERING Example Track

Dave Holland Quartet – “Conference of the Birds”

Why this is the best choice:

I listen for realistic stage width, depth, and layering.
Each instrument occupies its own space with natural separation.
It’s one of the cleanest acoustic layering tests in your entire list.

Backup options:

Jethro Tull – “Aqualung” (rock layering + imaging)
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra – “Game of Thrones Suite” (massive orchestral layering)

These tracks aren’t just “good examples” — they’re the best examples from my own list because they match exactly what I listen for and align perfectly with my sonic identity: neutral, natural, realistic, immersive. If you want to understand me as a reviewer, check out these songs and the others listed on my music playlist.

Understanding the Honest Target Curve

What My Target Curve Is

My Honest Target Curve is a visual outline of the sound I consider natural, realistic, and emotionally truthful. It represents the balance, tone, and timbre that align with how I hear music in real life. This curve reflects years of listening experience, thousands of hours with reference tracks, and a commitment to accuracy over excitement.

It’s a guide that helps me evaluate whether a product reproduces instruments and vocals with believable tone, maintains a neutral and natural balance across the frequency spectrum, and preserves the spatial cues that create an honest soundstage. The curve highlights the qualities I value most: controlled and textured bass, lifelike mids, smooth and natural treble, and a presentation that lets the recording — not the tuning — define the space.

Most importantly, my target curve is a reference point for consistency. It keeps my impressions grounded, helps me identify deviations from natural reproduction, and ensures that every review is built on the same foundation of realism, neutrality, and immersion. It’s not a rulebook — it’s a compass that points toward the sound I consider honest.

What My Target Curve Isn’t

My Honest Target Curve is not a universal standard, a scientific measurement target, or a one‑size‑fits‑all solution. It isn’t designed to replace your ears, dictate what you should enjoy, or compete with established research-based curves. It’s not a measurement‑driven formula, and it’s not meant to “fix” gear or force everything to sound the same.

This curve also isn’t about hype, trends, or chasing excitement. It doesn’t aim to create artificial width, boosted bass, or exaggerated treble. It isn’t a shortcut to good sound, and it isn’t a guarantee that a product tuned to it will automatically be great.

Instead, it’s simply a visual outline of how I hear, what I value, and what sounds natural and realistic to me. It’s a reference point — not a rulebook.

Why My Target Curve Matters for My Reviews

My Honest Target Curve gives you a clear window into how I listen and why I describe sound the way I do. Every impression I share — whether I call something warm, bright, neutral, natural, thin, or full — is based on how a product compares to this curve. It’s the reference point that keeps my evaluations consistent from one review to the next.

Understanding my target curve helps you interpret my impressions more accurately. If a headphone leans warmer or brighter than my curve, you’ll know exactly what that means in the context of my preferences. It also helps you decide whether my taste aligns with yours, which makes my reviews more useful and predictable for your own listening goals.

In short, the Honest Target Curve isn’t just a visual guide — it’s the foundation of my reviewing process. It keeps my evaluations grounded, honest, and aligned with the natural, realistic sound I value most.

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I am Dave the Honest Audiophile. Thanks for reading, and I will catch you in the next one. Don't forget to enjoy the music and that honesty is the BEST policy!

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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