Dense early reflections sum perceptually to sound livelier than energy measurements predict

Evidence

The large changes in the level of reflected sound had only a modest (1 to 5 dB) effect on the absolute threshold or the image-shift threshold of an additional lateral reflection occurring within about 30 ms of the direct sound. At longer delays the thresholds were elevated by up to about 20 dB, a clear response to stronger late-reflected sounds in the increasingly live rooms. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 630 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Room acoustics requires modeling direct sound then early reflections; Room reverberation barely affects early reflection audibility but strongly elevates late-reflection thresholds — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 630; Perceived loudness of time-varying sounds tracks near-peak levels, not averages (+1 more)

Related

• Room reverberation barely affects early reflection audibility but strongly elevates late-reflection thresholds (similarity 0.93)
• Small playback rooms impose their own early reflections on recorded sound (similarity 0.92)
• Removing conflicting reflections improves perception of low-level audio detail (similarity 0.90)
• Reverberant fields supply most perceived loudness in normal rooms (similarity 0.90)
• Early reflections boost perceived loudness while loud late reverberation degrades intelligibility (similarity 0.89)
• Early room reflections benefit speech intelligibility as much as raised direct sound level (similarity 0.88)
• Room boundary reflections are the second loudest sounds a listener hears (similarity 0.87)
• Music listeners prefer reflections far stronger and later than small rooms provide. (similarity 0.87)
• Detailed early-reflection structure matters as much as reverberation time for perceived acoustics (similarity 0.87)
• Early reflections within 30-40 ms improve speech intelligibility (similarity 0.86)
• Room acoustics requires modeling direct sound then early reflections (similarity 0.86)
• Early reflections are beneficial for recreational home listening but optional to treat. (similarity 0.86)
• Real-room reflections are attenuated and delayed, not equal-level and immediate. (similarity 0.86)
• Natural room reflections are too weak and early to please listeners of reproduced speech. (similarity 0.86)
• Room reflectivity at low frequencies determines bass elevation in measured steady-state curves (similarity 0.86)

Broader Connections

• Room acoustics requires modeling direct sound then early reflections #qualifies (0.80)
• Room reverberation barely affects early reflection audibility but strongly elevates late-reflection thresholds #complicates (0.80) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 630
• Perceived loudness of time-varying sounds tracks near-peak levels, not averages #corroborates (0.75)