test tones on a perfect setup

[Jerry Tubb]

Refer to the Equal Loudness Curves at 80-90dB:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...nd/eqloud.html

and the frequency response of your monitoring system.

They're far from flat or perfect.

JT

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by uncoolgray

What am I supposed to be hearing when I listen to test tones on a perfect monitor+room setup? Should each frequency have the same subjective loudness?

The whole point of test tones for checking loudspeakers in a room is to measure the response, not listen to them. Most rooms have numerous peaks and nulls of 30 dB or even more, and you'll never assess that accurately by ear. You'll be able to hear that the response is off, but not by how much or where.

Also, test tones and frequency response are only half the story. Time-based problems like early reflections, flutter echo, and ringing are just as important, and test tones will never show that. Below is a waterfall graph that shows both the response and ringing for a typical untreated room. In this type of graph the "mountains" come forward over time.

--Ethan