Ceiling reflections do not match side-wall reflections for good listening

Evidence

The situation can be improved via the use of explicit diffusion structures on the walls, ceilings, and mid-air as floating shapes, as shown in Figure 6.27. However, it has been found that the pseudo-lateral diffuse reflections from the ceiling are not quite comparable in effect to reflections from the side walls, and so the provision of a good listening environment within the realities of economics is still a challenge. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1972

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Ceiling-reflected diffuse sound cannot substitute for real side-wall reflections; Ceiling reflections are as detectable as lateral ones despite weak binaural cues — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 625; Early side-wall reflections range neutral to beneficial with well-designed loudspeakers — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 845

Broader Connections

• Ceiling-reflected diffuse sound cannot substitute for real side-wall reflections #expands (0.92)
• Early side-wall reflections range neutral to beneficial with well-designed loudspeakers #corroborates (0.75) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 845
• Ceiling reflections are as detectable as lateral ones despite weak binaural cues #qualifies (0.73) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 625