Larger recorded spaces perceptually dominate smaller playback spaces

Evidence

If listeners prefer to hear reflections that are louder and later than those generated by the listening room, to what extent does the listening room detract from recordings that include the desired reflections? Does the number of channels delivering the desired reflections alter the perceptions of the listening room reflections? … In the extreme, would a many-channel immersive system reduce the demands on the acoustical properties of listening spaces? Hughes et al. (2016) provides some data, indicating that the impression of a recorded space dominates when it is larger than the playback space. This is good for home listening. The reverse is also true, confirming the difficulty of reproducing the perception of a small space while listening in a large one. Cinemas have trouble conveying intimate conversations that should have no room sound. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 695

Categorization

• XREF: Links to fundamental psychoacoustics principle that larger recorded spaces perceptually override the playback room, relevant to immersive audio design. — connects to: Mixing recorded spaces creates a new kind of listening space — Pauline Oliveros, Deep Listening, 280; Recorded spatial content, not loudspeakers, dominates stereo perception; Seat effects are perceptually insignificant and skip equalization (+5 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 695

Broader Connections

• Recorded spatial content, not loudspeakers, dominates stereo perception #corroborates (0.82)
• Small playback rooms impose their own early reflections on recorded sound #complicates (0.80)
• Room acoustics and presentation method alter how listeners perceive sounds #expands (0.80)
• Mixing recorded spaces creates a new kind of listening space #expands (0.78) — Pauline Oliveros, Deep Listening, 280
• Vision dominates hearing in localization, identification, and size judgment #qualifies (0.75) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 873
• Listeners perceptually normalize familiar rooms to judge loudspeakers clearly #complicates (0.73) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1098
• Seat effects are perceptually insignificant and skip equalization #complicates (0.72)
• Removing conflicting reflections improves perception of low-level audio detail #expands (0.72)