What is a Frequency Response?

Frequency response refers to the range of audio frequencies that a device can reproduce and how accurately it reproduces them across that range. It describes how a microphone, speaker, headphone, or other audio device responds to different pitches from low bass to high treble.

Frequency response is usually measured in hertz (Hz) and represented as a range, such as 20 Hz to 20 kHz, which roughly corresponds to the range of human hearing. It may also be displayed as a graph showing how evenly the device reproduces different frequencies.

A device with a flat frequency response reproduces all frequencies at roughly the same level, which is desirable for accurate monitoring and recording. Frequency response is an important specification when evaluating microphones, speakers, headphones, and other audio equipment.