Rectifying and sluggish: Outer hair cells as regulators rather than amplifiers

•Soft high-frequency (HF) tones evoke an ∼1-μV AC receptor in basal OHCs; consequently, any mechanical amplification of HF tones would make them less audible.•A high K+ conductance in OHC does not boost HF receptor potentials.•OHC receptor currents display a substantial rectified (DC) component; sounds evoke large mechanical DC shifts in the organ of Corti, and these large baselineshifts occur both in the apex and the base of the cochlea.•Traveling waves can transport high-frequency energy of soft tones with minimal loss, but loud tones, if transported losslessly, would cause destructive displacement.•We propose that OHC motility serves to regulate local dissipation.