Measuring power compression properly needs broadband program-like conditioning signals

Evidence

Interestingly. How power compression is measured affects how much is revealed. Pure tone measurements at different input power levels exercise the transducers in a manner that is different from program material, and it can matter whether the frequency sweep begins at high or low frequencies. Ideally, one would condition the system with a broadband signal with an energy distribution representing a typical program and, once it has stabilized, interrupt the signal to perform a quick measurement. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1000

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to audiophile reviewer methodology debates and the challenge of replicating real-world listening conditions in lab measurements.