Equalization masks a mode’s audibility but leaves the room itself untouched

Evidence

A related and important area of signal processing to filtering is equalization. Unlike filtering, equalization is not interested in removing frequency components but in selectively boosting, cutting or reducing them to achieve a desired effect. The process of equalization can be modeled as a process of adding or subtracting a filtered version of the signal from the signal, as shown in Figure 7.40. Adding the filtered version gives a boost to the frequencies selected by the filter, whereas subtracting the filtered output reduces the frequency component amplitudes in the filter’s frequency range. The filter can be a simple highor low-pass filter, which results in a treble or bass tone control, or it can be a band-pass filter to give a bellshaped response curve. The cutoff frequencies of the filters may be either fixed or variable depending on the implementation. In addition, the bandwidths of the band-pass filters and, less commonly, the slopes of the highand low-pass filters can be varied. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2419 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Automatic equalization can create resonances by filling interference dips.; Equalizing to a universal target curve cannot reliably improve sound; Smooth equalized room curves often signal degraded sound quality — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1390 (+8 more)

Broader Connections

• Room reflections cannot be corrected by electronic equalization #corroborates (0.90)
• Equalization selectively boosts or cuts frequencies rather than removing them #expands (0.85) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2419
• Non-environment rooms suppress all but direct sound for clearer audio detail and imaging #corroborates (0.75)