196Hz

187 196 Hz is a specific frequency in the audible sound spectrum that equals 196 hertz, meaning it completes 196 cycles per second. It is not one of the standard pitches in the 12‑tone equal temperament system used in most Western music. The closest equal‑tempered notes are G3 at 175 Hz and A3 at 220 Hz; 196 Hz falls roughly 11 % above G3 and 11 % below A3. In just intonation it can represent a perfect fifth interval from the note A2, which normally has a frequency of 110 Hz, because 110 × 9⁄5 = 198 Hz, a value quite close to 196 Hz. Thus 196 Hz is sometimes used in tuning and acoustic education to illustrate harmonic relationships.

In hearing research, 196 Hz is a useful reference tone because it lies near the peak sensitivity of the human ear for low‑to‑mid frequencies. Acoustic test equipment such as audiometers and binaural loudness meters often generate pure tones at 196 Hz when evaluating subjects’ audibility thresholds. The frequency is also used in laboratory experiments on pitch perception and tone discrimination, allowing researchers to isolate responses to a single, steady frequency without interference from adjacent notes.

Technically, 196 Hz can be produced with simple sine wave generators, from mechanical tuning forks (though a common tuning fork is 440 Hz) to digital audio synthesis. It appears occasionally in the spectrum of complex sounds—such as the 7th harmonic of a 28 Hz fundamental—making it a characteristic component in the analysis of musical instrument tones or recording equipment.

For further comparison, see the general concepts of frequency, pitch, and tuning systems.