But what about sound quality? To what extent does the consumer's age, gender, culture and prior listening experience influence their taste in headphone sound quality? Is there a scientific basis for headphone manufacturers to design headphones that have different amounts of bass and treble aimed to satisfy the tastes of a targeted demographic group?
To answer this question, we recently conducted a study on factors that influence listeners’ preferred bass and treble balance in headphone sound reproduction. Using a method of adjustment a total of 249 listeners adjusted the relative treble and bass levels of a headphone that was first equalized at the eardrum reference point (DRP) to match the in-room steady-state response of a reference loudspeaker in a reference listening room. Listeners repeated the adjustment five times using three stereo music programs. The listeners included males and females from different age groups, listening experiences, and nationalities (Canada, USA, Germany and China). The results provide evidence that the preferred bass and treble balances in headphones was influenced by several factors including program, and the listeners’ age, gender, and prior listening experience. The younger and less experienced listeners on average preferred more bass and treble in their headphones compared to the older, more experienced listeners. Female listeners on average preferred about 1 dB bass and 2 dB treble than their male counterparts. Listeners over 55 years preferred less bass and more treble than the younger listeners suggested that they were compensating for possible hearing loss that is associated with increased age.
We recently presented the results of this study at the 139th Audio Engineering Society Convention in New York City, October 29th-November 1, 2015. The paper is available for download in AES e-library. A PDF copy of the presentation can be found here. Or you can view an animated version of the presentation on Youtube.
Hi Sean,
ReplyDeletedoesn't it contradict prior loudspeaker tonal balance findings, where you found that neither experience nor age play a role in listener preferences?
The early studies involved comparison of different speakers that varied more than bass and treble balance. Some speakers had resonances that produced serious colorations, distortions, differences in directivity. The headphone study basically takes a flat neutral headphone and asks people to adjust the bass and treble. That's where experience and age seem to take over. The same holds true for loudspeakers when we did a similar experience.
DeleteNot really. Prior to this study, I nor anyone I know had published a study where trained and untrained listeners were given a bass and treble control and asked to adjust to taste. In previous studies, trained and untrained listeners were asked to give preference ratings to speakers that varied in ways other than bass and treble. It seems that given some finite choices people will pick the most neutral speaker or headphone (no resonances), wide bandwidth. However, given some tone controls they will adjust for variations in program and taste.
ReplyDeleteThis study does confirm a previous one where we found untrained listeners adjusted the bass and treble of a loudspeaker and headphone higher than trained listeners. That study only had 3 untrained listeners, which is why we did this much larger study.
http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=17042
Ah, the boom and tizz brigade has re-entered the building!
ReplyDeleteVaguely reminiscent of Pacific Stereo in the 1970's....
University Stereo was a bit laid back in comparison.
You could certainly characterize the younger and less experienced listeners as preferring more boom and tizz in their headphones. However, the more experienced and older listeners prefer the treble setting to simulate what they would hear from an accurate loudspeaker in a room. In terms of bass the more experienced listeners like 4-5 dB bass boost which matches what they prefer from an accurate loudspeaker in a room. Hardly what I would characterize as boom and tizz
DeleteAn incredibly interesting study here. I'd love to see more like this - looking into what gives people their preferences like this. Thanks so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteAmazing research! Great article. Yes I agree with you Dr. Sean, the choice of headphones vary with age, gender, culture and other demographics. My choice will be an equillibrium quality sound that produces soothing sound. Ya, of-course price also matters to me. I found my choice of headphones @ latestone.com and am completely convinced with the performance of my headphones.
ReplyDeletePretty interesting post. What do you think about these studio headphones ?
ReplyDeleteI like heavy bass earbuds. But this is first time I know the preferred bass is influenced by age. That why's Beat headphones are most used by young people who are considered to be less experienced listeners :).
ReplyDelete