What is the relationship between intelligibility and frequency range in audio transmission?

The mid frequency range is critical for intelligibility because it contains the fundamental frequencies and harmonics of human speech. This range, typically around 500 Hz to 4000 Hz, includes the phonetic sounds that are essential for understanding spoken language.

When audio signals fall within this frequency range, they allow listeners to clearly perceive consonants and vowels, which are necessary for distinguishing words and sentences. Frequency ranges outside of this mid-range, particularly very low or very high frequencies, do not provide the same level of clarity for speech sounds. Therefore, ensuring that audio transmission emphasizes this mid frequency range is vital for effective communication and understanding.