Uncertainty principles force mechanical frequency sorting in the ear to be coarse.

Evidence

For frequencies up to about 500 Hz, the size of the critical band is fairly constant, but then it increases with increasing frequency. As a result, frequency selectivity of the ear is not constant and gets worse as frequency is increased, as long as frequency selectivity is characterized in terms of hertz. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 477 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Conductive hearing loss shifts tuning curves upward without degrading frequency resolution. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1884; The ear’s frequency selectivity is imperfect and worsens at higher frequencies — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 477; Only harmonics separated by more than the ear’s critical bandwidth are resolved (+1 more)

Related

• The ear’s frequency selectivity is imperfect and worsens at higher frequencies (similarity 0.90)
• The critical band model fails because selectivity varies with level and asymmetry. (similarity 0.90)
• The ear’s frequency selectivity worsens as frequency rises above 500 Hz. (similarity 0.90)
• The human hearing system compromises between frequency and time resolution, unlike ideal filters (similarity 0.88)
• The ear’s frequency response is level-dependent, favoring mid frequencies at low volume (similarity 0.86)
• The ear’s frequency resolution worsens progressively at higher frequencies. (similarity 0.85)
• Conductive hearing loss shifts tuning curves upward without degrading frequency resolution. (similarity 0.85)
• Frequency discrimination is finest around 0.3% near 500 Hz. (similarity 0.84)
• Harmonics resolve only while their spacing exceeds the ear’s ERB (similarity 0.84)
• Only harmonics separated by more than the ear’s critical bandwidth are resolved (similarity 0.84)
• Meaningful frequency-response specs require high resolution and narrow tolerance. (similarity 0.84)
• Cochlear frequency selectivity decreases as sound level increases (similarity 0.83)
• Frequency discrimination stems from steep filter slopes plus 1 dB level sensitivity (similarity 0.83)
• Only the first five to seven harmonics are resolved by the ear’s place mechanism (similarity 0.83)
• Roughness is limited by frequency selectivity at low and temporal resolution at high frequencies (similarity 0.83)

Broader Connections

• The ear’s frequency selectivity is imperfect and worsens at higher frequencies #expands (0.92) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 477
• Only harmonics separated by more than the ear’s critical bandwidth are resolved #expands (0.85)