Buffered listening environments mask off-axis loudspeaker flaws and bias evaluations

Evidence

If the result is to be an evaluation relevant to ordinary audiophiles or consumers, deliberate acoustical treatment must be moderated. Imitating an “average” domestic listening room is a good objective and the most contentious decision is likely to be what to do with the first side wall reflection. My initial decision, many years ago, was to let it reflect—a flat untreated surface, as happens in many domestic rooms and retail demonstrations—so that the off-axis behavior of the loudspeaker would be revealed. This is a demanding test, as it probably should be for loudspeaker evaluations intended to apply to a general population. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1104

Categorization

• XREF: Recalls the recurring theme that off-axis response predicts perceived quality; connects to earlier chapters’ directivity work.