Bass frequencies need far smaller level changes to halve perceived loudness

Evidence

At these frequencies a change of 10 dB in sound level corresponds to a change of 10 phons—which is a roughly a factor of two in perceived loudness. However, at lower frequencies the curves move closer to each other. At 63 Hz the relationship is about 7 dB for 10 phons, and at 31.5 Hz it is about 5 dB for double loudness. Small changes in sound level at bass frequencies are audibly consequential. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 333

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Small bass-level changes strongly alter perceived spectral balance; Leakage-dependent bass makes closed-back headphone sound quality vary across listeners; The just-noticeable difference quantifies the smallest audible change in a sound (+1 more)

Related

• Small bass-level changes strongly alter perceived spectral balance (similarity 0.87)
• The just-noticeable difference quantifies the smallest audible change in a sound (similarity 0.86)
• Leakage-dependent bass makes closed-back headphone sound quality vary across listeners (similarity 0.86)
• Volume changes alter perceived frequency balance, not just loudness (similarity 0.85)
• A ten-phon level reduction halves perceived loudness (similarity 0.85)
• Bass level errors cause perceived treble excess and vice versa (similarity 0.85)
• Reduced playback levels cause timbral shifts and lost low bass (similarity 0.84)
• Listener preference tolerances on headphone frequency response are narrowest through midrange (similarity 0.84)
• The listening room, not the loudspeaker, determines perceived bass quality. (similarity 0.84)
• Low-frequency cutoff defined at −10 dB, not −3 dB, best predicts perceived fidelity. (similarity 0.84)
• Bass accounts for roughly 30 percent of perceived sound quality (similarity 0.83)
• Louder signals need disproportionately more dB to double perceived loudness (similarity 0.83)
• Loudness compensation reduces effectively to a bass tone control (similarity 0.83)
• Louder sounds are perceived as having more bass and bias subjective comparisons. (similarity 0.83)
• The ear’s amplitude sensitivity varies with loudness and tonal complexity (similarity 0.83)