Consonant intelligibility depends on reverberation time in the 1-2 kHz bands

Evidence

Because of the importance of consonants to intelligibility, it is therefore important to maintain a high level of direct to reverberant sound; ideally one should operate a system at less than the critical distance. There is an empirical equation that links the number of consonants lost to the characteristics of the room (Peutz, 1971). As consonants occupy frequencies above 1 kHz and have very little energy above 4 kHz, this equation is based on the average reverberation time in the 1 kHz and 2 kHz octave bands. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2458

Categorization

• DEFINE: Explains the Peutz equation’s basis — why intelligibility is measured through specific band reverberation.