Ignoring resonance Q can under-predict listener dislike of specific headphones

Evidence

Using the data plotted in Fig. 8.2 together with those plotted in Fig. 8.1, the equal-loudness contours of the diffuse sound field can easily be constructed. Equal-loudness contours for sinusoidal tones or narrow-band noises indicate the interesting dependence of loudness on frequency. However, loudness depends on many more variables such as bandwidth, frequency content, and duration. Consequently, it is too simple to approximate loudness level by a single weighting such as the A-weight.ed sound pressure level. Because A-weighting has a frequency dependence that corresponds to that of the equal-loudness contours at low levels, A-weighted sound pressure level approximates loudness level only for sinusoidal tones or narrow-band noises at lower levels. Therefore, dB(A)-values of noises or complex tones, or combinations of both, are misleading when used as indications of subjectively perceived loudness. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1176 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Spectral balance errors predict headphone preference ratings independent of resonance Q; A-weighted dB values misrepresent perceived loudness for complex sounds. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1176; Equalizing only the low-Q resonance substantially improves subjective loudspeaker ratings. (+1 more)

Related

• Spectral balance errors predict headphone preference ratings independent of resonance Q (similarity 0.90)
• Below-1 kHz resonances go unpunished by the prediction model despite lowering actual preference scores (similarity 0.85)
• Listeners are forgiving of headphone resonances but sensitive to bass-level air leaks. (similarity 0.83)
• A-weighted dB values misrepresent perceived loudness for complex sounds. (similarity 0.82)
• Listener preference tolerances on headphone frequency response are narrowest through midrange (similarity 0.82)
• Equalizing only the low-Q resonance substantially improves subjective loudspeaker ratings. (similarity 0.81)
• A-weighting is recommended for all sound levels despite fitting low levels best (similarity 0.81)
• Noise research shifted from hearing-loss risk to subjective annoyance (similarity 0.80)
• Small bass-level changes strongly alter perceived spectral balance (similarity 0.80)
• A-weighted decibels are a rough practical approximation of perceived loudness (similarity 0.80)
• Loudness meters use frequency weightings as a compromise because ear response varies with level (similarity 0.80)
• Loudness-calculating procedures outperform simple SPL for practical noise reduction (similarity 0.80)
• Headphone bass perception varies with how well headphones seal on each ear (similarity 0.80)
• A-weighted decibels better predict hearing damage than unweighted sound pressure level. (similarity 0.80)
• Resonance Q reductions below about 16 are subjectively imperceptible (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Equalizing only the low-Q resonance substantially improves subjective loudspeaker ratings. #exemplifies (0.90)
• Predicting subjective listening preference from measured data remains a hard unsolved problem. #corroborates (0.78)
• A-weighted dB values misrepresent perceived loudness for complex sounds. #complicates (0.72) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1176