Listener preference tolerances on headphone frequency response are narrowest through midrange

Evidence

The phon scale is a subjective scale of loudness based on the judgments of listeners to match the loudness of tones to reference tones at 1 kHz. The curve for N phones intersects 1 kHz at N dB(SPL) by definition, and it can be seen that the relative shape of the phon curves flattens out at higher sound levels, as shown in Figure 2.13. The relative loudness of different frequencies is not preserved, and therefore the perceived frequency balance of sound varies as the listening level is altered. This is an effect we have all heard when the volume of a recording is turned down and the bass and treble components appear suppressed relative to the midrange frequencies, and the sound becomes “duller” and “thinner.” — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 626 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Auditory sensitivity varies nonuniformly across the frequency range; Turning down volume suppresses perceived bass and treble relative to midrange — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 626; Leakage-dependent bass makes closed-back headphone sound quality vary across listeners (+1 more)

Related

• Leakage-dependent bass makes closed-back headphone sound quality vary across listeners (similarity 0.90)
• Volume changes alter perceived frequency balance, not just loudness (similarity 0.90)
• The ear’s frequency response means quiet playback dulls bass and treble (similarity 0.89)
• Spectral balance errors predict headphone preference ratings independent of resonance Q (similarity 0.89)
• Small bass-level changes strongly alter perceived spectral balance (similarity 0.88)
• Reduced playback levels cause timbral shifts and lost low bass (similarity 0.87)
• Turning down volume suppresses perceived bass and treble relative to midrange (similarity 0.87)
• Raising a sound’s loudness shifts its perceived pitch except near 1-2 kHz. (similarity 0.84)
• Bass frequencies need far smaller level changes to halve perceived loudness (similarity 0.84)
• Headphone preference tolerances are tightest in the speech-critical midrange. (similarity 0.83)
• Headphone reproducibility varies strongly with frequency, worse at bass and treble extremes (similarity 0.82)
• Listeners are forgiving of headphone resonances but sensitive to bass-level air leaks. (similarity 0.82)
• Ear sensitivity depends jointly on frequency and on sound level (similarity 0.82)
• The ear’s amplitude sensitivity varies with loudness and tonal complexity (similarity 0.82)
• Ignoring resonance Q can under-predict listener dislike of specific headphones (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• Auditory sensitivity varies nonuniformly across the frequency range #expands (0.85)
• Turning down volume suppresses perceived bass and treble relative to midrange #exemplifies (0.75) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 626