High-Q resonances are rarely heard but catastrophically audible when music hits their exact frequency

Evidence

Toole and Olive (1988) concluded that at frequencies above 200 Hz the threshold of detection of resonances decreased about 3 dB for each doubling of the Q value. This means that the higher the Q, and therefore the longer the ringing, the less detectable the resonance. This is not an indication that ringing per se is not a problem, rather it most likely relates to the probability of a narrow band resonance being energized by typical music. Consequently, at these frequencies the duration of ringing is not a reliable indicator of audibility-see Section 5. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1645 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

The key idea being communicated in Figure 4.10 is that neither the amplitude of the peak in the frequency response nor the duration of ringing is a reliable clue to the audibility of the resonances, at least above the transition frequency. It is counterintuitive. Adding damping reduces the Q, and therefore the ringing. It also reduces the amplitude of the peak in the frequency response, all of which would seem to be good. But the peak is now much wider and is therefore more frequently energized by components of the program. This means that it will be more often heard; the threshold ends up being lower—this well-damped resonance is easily heard. In contrast, the Q = 50 resonance is energized only when a musical component is precisely at the right frequency and remains there long enough to allow it to accumulate energy—to build up—which is easily seen in the center column of data. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 385 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Coupled-oscillator energy sloshing causes the cello’s notorious wolf tone — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1022; Adding damping to a resonance paradoxically makes it more audible by widening its bandwidth; Higher-Q resonances become less audible because music rarely energizes them — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1645 (+7 more)

Related

• Higher-Q resonances become less audible because music rarely energizes them (similarity 0.95)
• Resonance Q reductions below about 16 are subjectively imperceptible (similarity 0.93)
• Adding damping to a resonance paradoxically makes it more audible by widening its bandwidth (similarity 0.93)
• Broad, low-Q resonances are the most audible transducer defects (similarity 0.93)
• Reverberation masks high-Q ringing but amplifies low-Q resonances (similarity 0.92)
• Reflections increase sensitivity to low and mid-Q resonances in reproduced sound (similarity 0.92)
• Low-Q resonance detection thresholds are remarkably low, making tonal changes easily audible. (similarity 0.91)
• After Q oscillations the amplitude falls to 4% and energy to 0.19% of original (similarity 0.91)
• Lower-Q resonances are more audible than high-Q ones despite seeming better-damped (similarity 0.90)
• High-Q resonances are rarely heard but intensely annoying when triggered. (similarity 0.90)
• Low-Q subwoofer resonances are audible mainly as spectral balance shifts (similarity 0.90)
• Resonance detection thresholds rise with higher Q and lower frequency (similarity 0.89)
• Well-damped low-Q resonances are easier to hear than high-Q ones. (similarity 0.89)
• Low-Q resonances are most often excited by music and most audible (similarity 0.87)
• Lower Q spreads resonances wider in frequency but shortens time-domain ringing (similarity 0.87)

Broader Connections

• Higher-Q resonances become less audible because music rarely energizes them #corroborates (0.95) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1645
• Lower-Q resonances are more audible than high-Q ones despite seeming better-damped #expands (0.82) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 385
• Reverberation masks high-Q ringing but amplifies low-Q resonances #corroborates (0.75)
• Reflections increase sensitivity to low and mid-Q resonances in reproduced sound #expands (0.75)
• More playback channels increasingly mask audible loudspeaker resonances #qualifies (0.75) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 568
• Long sound durations are required for narrow frequency spectra #expands (0.72)