Floor reflections are perceptually benign and removing them sounds unnatural.

Evidence

Some of this is anecdotal, not the result of thorough scientific investigation. But there is an intriguing logic to the notion that humans evolved while standing on something, and most of what we hear includes reflections from what is under our feet. Wherever we are, reflections from what is under our feet have been useful in gauging distance, among other things. Floor reflections are a part of symphonic performances, jazz club performances, conversations at home or on the street. Is that a problem, a virtue or just a fact of life? — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 790 (#expands, via linked claim)

This was one of the experiences leading me to recognize that humans have an ability to “listen through” rooms, to separate the sound of the source from the sound of the room. This ability seems to be degraded when the direct and reflected sounds have different timbral signatures. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1858 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Figure 5.16 illustrates the so-called Central Paradox, in which the communication of sound, live or reproduced, through a room appears acoustically to be a chaotic mess, and yet two ears and a brain make perceptual sense of it. As envisioned by its creator, Dr. Arthur Benade, it applied to live performances, but it turns out to be true for reproduced performances as well. It is wise not to underestimate the power of the binaural perceptual process. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 611 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Floor reflections are an inherent part of normal human listening — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 790; Humans can perceptually separate a sound source from its room. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1858; Diffusing surfaces may not reduce perceived reflection loudness as expected — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 655 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Floor reflections are an inherent part of normal human listening #expands (0.95) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 790
• Humans can perceptually separate a sound source from its room. #corroborates (0.80) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1858
• Diffusing surfaces may not reduce perceived reflection loudness as expected #corroborates (0.75) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 655
• The precedence effect reduces masking from reflections in rooms #qualifies (0.75) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1574
• Binaural hearing makes perceptual sense of acoustically chaotic rooms. #corroborates (0.75) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 611
• Listeners perceptually normalize familiar rooms to judge loudspeakers clearly #corroborates (0.70) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1098