Loudspeaker evaluation must be done in mono because multichannel adds forgiveness
Evidence
In summary, while it is undeniable that good stereo and multichannel recordings are more entertaining than monophonic versions, it is an inconvenient truth that monophonic listening provides circumstances in which the strongest perceptual differentiation of sound quality occurs. If the purpose of a listening test is to evaluate the intrinsic sound quality from loudspeakers, listen in mono. For pleasure, or to impress someone, listen in stereo or multichannel modes. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 236 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
When put to the test—proper double-blind tests as discussed above—the added perceptual dimensions in stereo turn out to be influenced as much or more by recordings than by the loudspeakers. Instead of making loudspeaker sound quality requirements more demanding, it turns out that the recorded spatial information in multiple channels makes listeners more forgiving of loudspeaker flaws. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 467 (
#qualifies, via linked claim)
In Sections 4.4 and 4.5 it was shown that from the point of view of sound quality, the most challenging listening tests for loudspeakers were those done in mono. People heard and complained about resonances in loudspeakers. Adding a single channel for stereo made listeners less responsive to flaws in loudspeakers, as persuasively shown in Section 4.4. Adding more channels in multichannel made them even more forgiving (Figure 5.7(b)). Simple logic suggests that the complexity of the sound field in the room was responsible. The ray diagrams in Figure 5.12 are persuasive evidence of that. But, if the resonances were in all the loudspeakers, why would having more of them playing simultaneously make the resonances less audible? — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 568 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Stereo presentation masks audible differences between loudspeakers found in mono. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 443; Monophonic listening is the most demanding test of loudspeaker sound quality; Every channel in a multichannel setup must perform well as a solo monophonic source (+3 more)
Related
- Monophonic listening is the most demanding test of loudspeaker sound quality (similarity 0.95)
- Every channel in a multichannel setup must perform well as a solo monophonic source (similarity 0.95)
- Mono listening produces stronger and more consistent loudspeaker quality opinions than stereo (similarity 0.93)
- Stereo and multichannel listening make listeners more forgiving of loudspeaker flaws (similarity 0.93)
- Stereo presentation masks audible differences between loudspeakers found in mono. (similarity 0.90)
- Loudspeaker evaluation requires mono, while enjoyment happens in multichannel (similarity 0.89)
- More playback channels increasingly mask audible loudspeaker resonances (similarity 0.89)
- Stereo playback masks differences between loudspeakers with room reflections (similarity 0.86)
- Spatial richness in multichannel sound inhibits perception of loudspeaker resonances (similarity 0.85)
- Multichannel spatial information masks loudspeaker coloration in playback (similarity 0.84)
- Mismatched left-right speakers may degrade stereo imaging more than room effects. (similarity 0.84)
- Critical loudspeaker evaluation should use mono for fail-safe real-world listening (similarity 0.83)
- The listening room’s influence is suppressed during multichannel playback (similarity 0.83)
- Blind listener tests reliably favor the most neutral loudspeakers (similarity 0.82)
- Multichannel recording content masks room acoustics and loudspeaker resonances (similarity 0.82)
Broader Connections
- Mono listening produces stronger and more consistent loudspeaker quality opinions than stereo
#corroborates(0.95) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 236 - Stereo and multichannel listening make listeners more forgiving of loudspeaker flaws
#qualifies(0.90) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 467 - More playback channels increasingly mask audible loudspeaker resonances
#corroborates(0.85) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 568