Can you and your son hear that high through headphones or other systems? You'd be surprised how many folks, even young people, cannot hear above 15khz. Personally, I'd make sure you both can hear that high on other equipment before trying to fix things.

I can still hear up to around 18.5khz on a good day (if my allergies are behaving and I'm well rested). That's really good for someone who's 33. I have naturally good hf extention on my ears and I have gone to great lengths to take care of them. I NEVER hear anything at a 20khz cycle.

I'd really bet that you both are maxing out the ability of your ears and your system is fine.

Let us know what you find out!

Are the speakers bi-wirable? If so make sure that the jumpers between the two sets of binding posts are firmly in place.

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Or is it the case that most humans will not hear much if anything past the 16KHz tone?

I'm no audiologist, but most folks have a tough time hearing above 16khz. The 20hz-20khz ideal that is often cited is just that - an ideal.

For another way to hear (or not hear) these tones, check out the Mosquito ringtone web page

These are designed so kids, who have better HF hearing can text each other (in class mostly) and their old fogey teachers won't hear the ring.

Even on my laptop, I can hear the 17.5khz tone very clearly.

Good luck!

Oh,

Also, so you don't worry about this too much, remember that the difference between hearing 17khz and 18khz is only about a half step (or minor 2nd) musically. Hearing those frequencies will color all of the sound you hear, but that difference of 1,000 hz way up there isn't as big a difference as if you couldn't hear the difference between 8khz and 9khz.

The problem is, most times with HF hearing loss there is often a loss of hearing in the presence region (1-5khz) where the brain's sensitivty to sound is quite strong.

An audiologist could tell you for sure.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667

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http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667

I'm not sure I'd trust that meter above 10khz...

Your son should have heard the tones at least up to 16K. It should have been easy for him.

I taught a voluntary digital audio class at our Middle School last spring outlining the differences between mp3s and redbook, and then went into hi rez and sacd with recordings and a hearing test. I had 35 students sign up which was a surprise to me, but they all could hear past 16khz easily and I think they were surprised.

I also showed them the FFT graphs of their 128 mp3 samples as compared to even cd redbook and they were shocked. They could all hear the difference between a song a 128 and redbook, but had not taken the time to do so at home.

They were really shocked that they could easily hear a difference between redbook and SACD. No one had ever heard of SACD before. They realized that 99 cents bought them convenience, but little else.

At the very least they were all going to upgrade their ear buds and some were going to ask their parents for a pair of Grado 60s, much better than where they were for sure.

Have some younger ladies to your home and let them hear your speaker test. They should here the hi freqs if they are there.

Jim

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http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667

I'm not sure I'd trust that meter above 10khz...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=505236

Perhaps you could suggest a better tool that only costs $50?

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Perhaps you could suggest a better tool that only costs $50?

I'm afraid I can't. Full-full range calibrated mics are expensive.

In any case the OP would be able to determine if his loudspeakers are emitting frequencies above 16 kHz with the RS meter.

http://www.audioxpress.com/magsdirx/ax/addenda/media/koya2811.pdf

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In any case the OP would be able to determine if his loudspeakers are emitting frequencies above 16 kHz with the RS meter.

That's true.

If your speakers are producing sound at 8K and you can hear it, I'm almost certain they are working above that level and aren't defective. I'd say 95% sure that it's with your hearing. I can't hear much if anything above 15K or so and the music still sounds great.

In short, I wouldn't worry about it.

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If your speakers are producing sound at 8K and you can hear it, I'm almost certain they are working above that level and aren't defective. I'd say 95% sure that it's with your hearing. I can't hear much if anything above 15K or so and the music still sounds great.

In short, I wouldn't worry about it.

Good post!

If the tweeters are working at the lower frequencies they are supposed to reproduce, then odds are high they are working properly over-all.

The main question for you should be how you think the system is sounding.

Do you think it rolls off the highs, or does it seem fine?

Perhaps take your test disc and your son around to a Hi Fi shop and see what you hear, or a friend's house, etc.

Before buying stuff, go do a little listening here and there.