Hearing adapts to timbre modifications, driving escalating compensation until a rest break resets perception

Evidence

When using equalizers to modify the timbre of a musical sound, it is important to be careful to avoid “psychoacoustic fatigue”—this arises because the ear and brain adapt to sounds. This has the effect of dulling the effect of a given timbre modification over a period of time. Therefore one puts in yet more boost, which one adapts to, and so on. The only remedy for this condition is to take a break from listening to that particular sound for a while and then listen to it again later. Note that this effect can happen at normal listening levels and so is different from the temporary threshold shifts that happen at excessive sound levels. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2436

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the noise/silence reading: adaptation dulls perception, and only absence (silence break) restores sensitivity — same principle as psychoacoustic fatigue needing a listening break.