Higher source directivity reduces the reverberant field, equivalent to tonal darkening.

Evidence

The effect therefore of a directive source with constant on-axis response is to reduce the reverberant field as the Q gets higher. The subjective effect of this would be similar to reducing the high-Q regions via the use of a tone control, which would not normally be acceptable as a sound quality. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1797

Categorization

• SHARE: A niche hi-fi crossover tidbit — directional speakers audibly tilt the room’s tonal balance — for someone who obsesses over speaker placement.