Silly Question regarding Frequency Response:

[JCS123]

OK folks, this shows off my utter ignorance of audio electronics, so thanks for indulging me here.

Say I'm listening to speakers or subs that play down to 16Hz being driven by an amplifier that is rated at 20Hz-20kHz, will I be able to hear (or feel) anything in the 16-20Hz range?

Thanks in advance for any and all answers. I'll be checking the responses on and off today, but right now its time to get ready for some football!

 

[Bones13]

First, I don’t know how well the average ear can hear below 20hz, I’m sure some can. I think frequencies that low are mainly felt by the body.

When you see a rating of 20hz to 20 khz (referring to the limits of human hearing) keep in mind that there is still energy produced above and below this range, but the db level is lower, and they filter out at a certain db loss, to quote a range. (I see 3db frequently)

 

[Mike]

Assuming there is material that low (lowest note on a pipe organ) - only some pipe organs can reach 16hz - but that’s the lowest. My guess is the sub is rolling off far above that. Dual 18’s or bigger…maybe can get that low in room flat. The Clarisys Audio Infrasonic Generator which is part of the Atrium system can hit 11hz (flat, measured, in room). But it’s 9 feet tall, 3 feet wide and double sided with Neodymium type 52 magnets. It’s a special feat.

Theoretically, feel more than hear.

 

[the professor]

I don’t know that you can perceive it consciously at all. But even tho I can’t explain nor understand it - your body detects it in some way. Listening perception changes when the low frequencies are present in music compared to when they aren’t.

 

[the professor]

Off topic but technically speaking — There are 2 pipe organs in the world that have 64’ pipes which could go as low as 8hz. But for practical purposes the vast majority of organs that exist only have 16’ pipes that go as low as 32hz.

 

[JCS123]

OK this is one real world rig that I had around 25 years ago:

conrad-johnson CAV-50 control amp: 33Hz to 15kHz
ACI Sapphire speakers: 64Hz-20kHz
ACI Titan Sub: 20Hz-250Hz

To clarify, in the above combination, I would not be able to hear or feel anything from 20-33Hz and 15-20kHz. Do I have this right, all other things being equal?

Thanks to your replies, I think I'm beginning to understand it a bit. I appreciate all of you who have responded.

 

[JCS123]

Off topic but technically speaking — There are 2 pipe organs in the world that have 64’ pipes which could go as low as 8hz. But for practical purposes the vast majority of organs that exist only have 16’ pipes that go as low as 32hz.

Now that is very surprising. I have been under the impression that the pipe organ goes much lower than the typical 32Hz. I've always felt that I was missing a lot of the bottom end, regardless of how low the subs that I've had in the past go. Let alone live performances in a proper hall, even the sound of a live pipe organ in a church is something that I've never been able to attain in my own systems. Sounds like I need to get in to the church more often....

 

[SCAudiophile]

First, I don’t know how well the average ear can hear below 20hz, I’m sure some can. I think frequencies that low are mainly felt by the body.

When you see a rating of 20hz to 20 khz (referring to the limits of human hearing) keep in mind that there is still energy produced above and below this range, but the db level is lower, and they filter out at a certain db loss, to quote a range. (I see 3db frequently)

Definitely correct. Many times amp/other ratings are published like that as outside such a range the roll-off as well as specs like THD, etc. aren't as impressive so they often constrain them, e.g. 20Hz-20kHz whether other manufacturers publish much broader ranges as their test results outside the 20-20k range is much better than their competition.