A slowly-decaying frequency makes a room ring at that pitch

Evidence

Another name for these standing waves in a room is resonant modes, and the frequencies at which they occur are known as “modal frequencies.” Because the modes are spatially static, there will be a strong variation of sound pressure level as one moves around the room, which is undesirable. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1953 (#expands, via linked claim)

Note that, if the absorption remains constant with frequency, the bandwidths of a mode are independent of their frequency—they are simply a function of the modal decay time. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2012 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: Room modal bandwidths depend on decay time, not frequency — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2012; Spatially static resonant modes cause sound level to vary across a room — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1953; A room mode’s length relative to mean free path sets its decay time

Broader Connections

• Spatially static resonant modes cause sound level to vary across a room #expands (0.75) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1953
• Room modal bandwidths depend on decay time, not frequency #expands (0.72) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2012