Flattening sound power via bass-shy or treble-hot designs harms perceived quality

Evidence

All dimensions perceived in the performed listening tests correspond with features extracted from the sound pressure response of the diffuse and direct field at the listener’s position. There was no hint of a relation to phase response or to nonlinear distortion. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 711 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

Starting with my earliest listening tests in the late 1960s, through a prolific research period in the 1980s (see Figure 5.2), up to the present (see Chapter 12), it has been a monotonous truth that in double-blind listening tests, the highest rated loudspeakers had the flattest, smoothest on-axis and listening-window frequency responses. Listeners liked neutral, uncolored, direct sound. Beyond that, loudspeakers that exhibited similarly good behavior off-axis achieved even higher scores—reflected sounds would then have similar timbral signatures. These findings have remained valid in many different rooms over the years. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1292 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Curve smoothness and flatness track perceived sound quality ratings; Anechoic on-axis and sound power responses suffice to predict perceived loudspeaker quality — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1292; Perceived loudspeaker sound quality depends only on amplitude responses — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 711 (+1 more)

Related

• Anechoic on-axis and sound power responses suffice to predict perceived loudspeaker quality (similarity 0.88)
• Perceived loudspeaker sound quality depends only on amplitude responses (similarity 0.88)
• Highly regarded loudspeakers measured far from flat in anechoic response (similarity 0.86)
• Sound power alone cannot predict listener preference for loudspeakers (similarity 0.85)
• Curve smoothness and flatness track perceived sound quality ratings (similarity 0.85)
• Smoother, flatter, wider-bandwidth on-axis curves predict higher subjective loudspeaker ratings. (similarity 0.85)
• Trained listeners perceive flat spectra from loudspeakers whose on-axis response is flat (similarity 0.83)
• On-axis response alone cannot predict how a loudspeaker sounds in a room (similarity 0.83)
• Blind listening shows listeners consistently prefer flat, smooth anechoic frequency response (similarity 0.83)
• Perceived spectral balance matches on-axis response more than sound power or room curve (similarity 0.83)
• Louder playback is unconsciously rated as better quality in audio listening tests (similarity 0.83)
• Buffered listening environments mask off-axis loudspeaker flaws and bias evaluations (similarity 0.83)
• Distortion rarely drives subjective ratings of consumer loudspeakers (similarity 0.83)
• Sound reproduction quality depends on both physical acoustics and human perception (similarity 0.83)
• Loudspeaker directivity determines which curve predicts the room (similarity 0.83)

Broader Connections

• Curve smoothness and flatness track perceived sound quality ratings #corroborates (0.85)
• Perceived loudspeaker sound quality depends only on amplitude responses #contradicts (0.80) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 711
• Anechoic on-axis and sound power responses suffice to predict perceived loudspeaker quality #qualifies (0.75) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1292