Cochlear nonlinearities

[marce]

11 hours ago, jabbr said:

 

I’m not sure you are grokking the full implications of this. 

 

1) Yes it’s possible that, like but not the same as intermodulation distortion, that the mechanism of ultrasonic affect on the cochlea is via this “demodulation” effect — not exactly demodulation but essentially subharmonics. So an ultrasonic signal, via nonlinearities, results in a specific pattern of cochlear excitation. 

2) This pattern might be unique to the individual and specific individual’s response to specific frequencies. 

3) Thus there is no global transform that would allow someone to “reencode” ultrasonic information in the 20-20kHz range. The mapping from 20-40 kHz to 20-20 kHz — or 20-11kHz is presumably specific to the individual. 

4) Thus ultrasonic information is necessary to contain the full experience, as heard by a person. 

 

5) That said it might be possible to “get close” to reencoding 24/96 into 24/44 by modeling an “average” air / cochlear nonlinearity.

You would have to wear bone conduction headphones to get any effect, the power of the high frequencies from your speakers is not enough...