如果您对音质(sound quality)感兴趣，您应该了解一下哈曼曲线(Harman Curve)。另一方面，如果您正在寻找完美的耳机(headphones)，您一定听说过哈曼(Harman)目标曲线这个词。也许您已经阅读过评论，称赞这款耳机可以达到这个目标。
说实话，调到哈曼曲线(Harman Curve)的耳机并不是每个人都喜欢的。本文将帮助您了解什么是哈曼曲线(Harman Curve)及其背后的科学。然后，您可以进行有根据的购买，而不是盲目购买评分最高的耳机。
什么是哈曼曲线？
音频(Audio)调谐是决定音质的最关键因素之一。声音特征是调谐频率：低音、中音和高音。频率调谐的结果可以表示为频率响应曲线。该曲线描述了耳机可以再现的频率范围（和音调）。
耳机生产商对他们的产品进行了不同的调整，以便在竞争中脱颖而出。例如，一些制造商更喜欢平坦和中性的声音特征，而另一些制造商则喜欢更有趣的 V 形声音。
一种这样的曲线是哈曼(Harman)目标曲线。它被认为是调整耳机的最佳声音特征，可产生最佳音质。它背后有科学来支持这一说法。
哈曼曲线技术(Harman Curve Technology)的历史(History)
早在 2010 年代，Harman International（自 2017 年起由三星(Samsung)拥有）实验室的科学家进行了一项研究，以找出使耳机听起来最好的原因。Harman曲线是由音频工程师Sean Olive 博士(Dr. Sean Olive)领导和发表的几项此类研究的结果，他发现了感知（人们喜欢听到的内容）与耳机音质的科学测量之间的关系之间的平衡。
Olive 博士(Dr. Olive)和他的研究人员对 4 个国家和 11 个测试地点的 283 人进行了盲研究。尽管大多数参与者都是Harman员工，但科学团队小心翼翼地在性别、年龄和聆听体验方面实现了多样性。
该研究得出结论，由于人体解剖学，扬声器的调谐不适用于耳机。耳机、入耳式(IEMs)耳机和耳塞(earbuds)之间的调音也有所不同。这是因为耳机产生的声音直接与我们的耳道和耳廓（或耳廓，外耳的可见部分）相互作用，而耳塞仅与耳道相互作用。但是因为每个人都是不同的，所以我们感知声音频率的方式大约有 2 分贝的差异。
有四种不同的哈曼(Harman)曲线，每一种都迎合人们可能有的不同偏好。在研究中，研究人员根据大多数测试对象的偏好调整每条曲线。例如，2019 年进行的最新研究发现，人们希望听到更多的低音。
Harman的研究人员发现的一个有趣的事实是，65% 的测试对象、发烧友、专业人士和日常听众更喜欢调整到Harman曲线的耳机。细微的差别是男性和年轻人喜欢更多的低音，而女性和老年人更喜欢较少的低音。
哈曼曲线(Harman Curve Look)是什么样的？
这是最新的哈曼曲线(Harman Curve)的样子：
上图显示了耳机和IEM的(IEMs)哈曼(Harman)曲线。注意(Notice)区别。如前所述，调整取决于设备与耳朵的哪个解剖部位进行交互。
一些证据表明，人们更喜欢平坦和中性的声音。这可能会让您认为哈曼(Harman)曲线会反映这一点并且看起来像一条平线。但从上图中可以看出，它远非平坦。
为什么是这样？由于我们的解剖结构，当聆听扬声器发出的声音时，头部相关的传递函数（HRTF）开始发挥作用。HRTF会在声音到达您的耳膜之前修改或改变穿过您的环境、躯干和头部的声音的频率。
通过耳机收听声音时，由于设备靠近您的耳朵，这些频率变化永远不会发生。离开耳机的声音会直接进入您的耳道，这取决于制造商来模拟HRTF。如果你的耳机是平的和中性的，它们的声音会非常沉闷。
Harman的曲线不是完全平坦的还有另一个原因，那就是耳机试图复制声音，就好像它来自一个房间一样。毕竟，最自然的聆听体验来自我们的环境。声音的来源很少就在我们的耳朵里。哈曼(Harman)曲线将低音放大一点，以达到房间声音的效果。
哈曼曲线调音真的听起来更好(Does Harman Curve Tuning Really Sound Better)吗？
你一定想知道哈曼(Harman)曲线是如何预测每个人都喜欢听的。我们对音乐、流派和响度都有不同的品味。一种频率响应真的适合我们所有人吗？
一些变化是由个人喜好解释的，但这些主要是由训练有素的专业音乐家报告的。当涉及到非专业听众时，个人偏好要微妙得多。Harman 的研究证明，大多数听众对耳罩式耳机和耳罩式耳机的声音有着相似的品味。科学家进行的测量可以预测人们的偏好，准确率高达 86%。入耳式设备的这一比例上升到 91%。
你可以试试哈曼(Harman)曲线调谐耳机，讨厌你听到的声音。您必须了解您的耳朵需要时间来适应新的调音，尤其是如果您之前一直使用调音不佳的耳机。如果您在一段时间后仍不喜欢您的Harman目标调谐耳机，那也没关系。哈曼(Harman)曲线并不是让所有人都满意的音质的最佳解决方案。然而，这是一个很好的起点，也是有科学依据的音质参考。
使用Harman Target Tuning的耳机(Harman Target Tuning)
您将在下面找到一些适合Harman Curve的最佳耳机。
这些耳机由Harman生产，是音乐制作、工作室创作和批判性聆听的专业工具。它具有 50 毫米镀钛动态驱动器和OFC音圈，还可将听者与环境噪音隔离开来。因此，没有低频声音会影响您的聆听体验。
AKG K371的AKG 参考响应曲线(AKG Reference Response Curve)调校就是哈曼(Harman)曲线在耳机中的转换。它用于增强从 5kHz 到 40kHz 的频率范围。它的SPL灵敏度为 114 分贝。
2.索尼MDR7506专业大振膜耳机(Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphones)
索尼 MDR7506(Sony MDR7506)是另一款专为广播和音乐制作行业设计的高品质耳机。它有一个40 毫米的PET隔膜和钕磁铁。这款耳机的频率响应为 10 至 20kHz，阻抗为 63 欧姆。
3. AKG N5005 入耳式耳机(AKG N5005 In-Ear Headphones)
Harman的另一款产品AKG N5005是一款带有五个驱动器的混合耳机。无论您听什么类型的音乐，它所再现的声音都非常平衡且纯净。可定制的过滤器可以调整中音和高音以符合您的口味。N5005的动态频率在 10 到 40kHz 之间，阻抗为 8 欧姆。
您是否尝试过任何适合Harman Curve的耳机？请(Please)在下面的评论中留下您的反馈，并告诉我们您对哈曼曲线(Harman Curve)的看法。
What Is the Harman Curve (And How Does It Improve Headphone Sound Quality)?
If yoυ are interested in sound quality, you should learn about the Harman Curve. On the other hand, if you are looking for the perfect headphones, you must have heard the term Harman target curve. Maybe you have read reviews praising the headphones tuned to hit this target.
Truthfully, headphones tuned to the Harman Curve are not everyone’s cup of tea. This article will help you understand what the Harman Curve is and the science behind it. Then, you can make an educated purchase instead of blindly buying the headphones with the highest rating.
What Is the Harman Curve?
Audio tuning is one of the most critical factors in determining sound quality. Sound signature is tuning frequencies: bass, mids, and treble. The result of the frequency tuning can be represented as a frequency response curve. This curve describes the range of frequencies (and musical tones) the headphones can reproduce.
Headphone producers tune their products differently so they stand out from their competition. For example, some manufacturers prefer a flat and neutral sound signature, while others go for a V-shaped sound that is more fun.
One such curve is the Harman target curve. It is considered the best sound signature to tune your headphones, producing the best sound quality possible. There is a science behind it to back up this claim.
The History of Harman Curve Technology
Back in the 2010s, the scientists in the Harman International (owned by Samsung since 2017) laboratory conducted a study to find out what makes the headphones sound their best. The Harman curve was the result of several such studies led and published by audio engineer Dr. Sean Olive, who found the balance in the relationship between perception (what people prefer to hear) and the scientific measurement of headphone sound quality.
Dr. Olive and his researchers conducted blind studies on 283 individuals in four countries and 11 test locations. Although most of the participants were Harman employees, the science team was careful to achieve diversity in their gender, age, and listening experience.
The study concluded that the tuning for speakers didn’t work on headphones because of human anatomy. The tuning was also different between headphones, IEMs, and earbuds. This is because the sound produced by headphones interacts directly with our ear canal and auricle (or the pinna, the visible part of the outer ear), while earbuds interact only with the ear canal. But because every human is different, there is around 2 decibels difference in how we perceive sound frequencies.
There are four different Harman curves, each one catering to different preferences people might have. In studies, researchers tweak each curve according to the preference of the majority of test subjects. For example, the latest study, performed in 2019, discovered that people wanted to hear slightly more bass.
Among interesting facts discovered by Harman’s researchers is that 65% of test subjects, audiophiles, professionals, and everyday listeners, preferred headphones tuned to the Harman curve. The slight difference was that men and young individuals prefer more bass, while women and older people prefer less bass.
What Does the Harman Curve Look Like?
Here’s what the latest Harman Curve looks like:
The graph above displays the Harman curve for headphones and IEMs. Notice the difference. As explained earlier, the tuning differs depending on what anatomical part of the ear the device is interacting with.
Some evidence suggests that people prefer a flat and neutral sound. This might make you think the Harman curve would reflect this and look like a flat line. But as you can see from the graph above, it is far from flat.
Why is this? Due to our anatomy, when listening to the sound from speakers, a head-related transfer function(HRTF) for short comes into play. HRTF modifies or changes the frequency of a sound traveling through your environment, torso, and head before it hits your eardrum.
When listening to a sound through headphones, these frequency changes never happen due to the device’s proximity to your ear. A sound that leaves your headphone goes straight to your ear canal, and it is up to manufacturers to emulate the HRTF. If your headphones were flat and neutral, their sound would be extremely dull.
There is another reason why Harman’s curve is not entirely flat, and that is the fact that headphones are trying to replicate the sound as if it is coming from a room. After all, the most natural listening experience is from our environment. The source of the sound is rarely right up our ears. Harman curve amplifies the bass a little more to achieve the effect of a sound coming from a room.
Does Harman Curve Tuning Really Sound Better?
You must wonder how the Harman curve can predict what everyone likes to hear. We all have different tastes in music, genres, and loudness. Does one frequency response truly fit us all?
Some variations are explained by personal preference, but these are reported mainly by professional musicians with a trained ear. Personal preferences are much more subtle when it comes to non-professional listeners. Harman’s studies proved that most listeners have a similar taste for the sound coming from on-ear and over-ear headphones. The measurements conducted by scientists could predict people’s preferences with up to 86% accuracy. That percentage rose to 91% for in-ear devices.
You can try Harman curve-tuned headphones and hate the sound you’re hearing. You must understand that your ear needs time to get used to new tuning, especially if you have used poorly tuned headphones up until now. If you don’t like your Harman target tuned headphones even after some time, that’s fine. Harman curve is not the best solution for the sound quality that will please everyone. However, it is a great starting point, and a reference for sound quality backed up by science.
Headphones that Use the Harman Target Tuning
Below you’ll find some of the best headphones tuned to the Harman Curve.
These headphones, produced by Harman, are a professional tool for music production, studio creation, and critical listening. It has a 50-mm titanium-coated dynamic driver and OFC voice coil that also isolates the listener from ambient noise. As a result, no low-frequency sounds will affect your listening experience.
The AKG Reference Response Curve tuning of AKG K371 is what the Harman curve translates to in headphones. It serves to enhance the frequency ranges from 5kHz to 40 kHz. Its SPL sensitivity is 114 decibels.
Sony MDR7506 is another high-quality headphone designed for the broadcast and music production industry. It has a PET diaphragm of 40mm with neodymium magnets. The frequency response of this headphone is 10 to 20kHz, with a 63-ohm impedance.
Another Harman product, AKG N5005, is a hybrid headphone with five drivers. The sound it reproduces is well-balanced and pure, regardless of the genre of music you are listening to. Customizable filters can adjust midrange and high notes to match your taste. The dynamic frequency of N5005 is between 10 and 40kHz and has an impedance of 8 ohms.
Have you ever tried any headphones tuned to the Harman Curve? Please leave your feedback in the comments below and tell us what you think about the Harman Curve.
