On-axis response alone cannot predict how a loudspeaker sounds in a room

Evidence

All dimensions perceived in the performed listening tests correspond with features extracted from the sound pressure response of the diffuse and direct field at the listener’s position. There was no hint of a relation to phase response or to nonlinear distortion. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 711 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

It should not be concluded that listeners can always adapt to or normalize rooms to the extent shown here. As will be seen, there is always some adaptation, but in Experiment One it was enabled by the experimental method of comparing different loudspeakers within each room. Experiment Two is more closely related to real-life listening, in that the sounds of the room and the loudspeaker are combined. Listeners living in the room may develop enough familiarity with it to be able to discern some characteristics of loudspeakers being listened to, but having multiple comparison loudspeakers available is a very advantageous situation. The tests had the additional advantage of being in mono. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 547 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: A single recorded click can predict any sound’s behavior in a space; Anechoic on-axis and sound power responses suffice to predict perceived loudspeaker quality — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1292; On-axis curves alone cannot predict loudspeaker sound quality (+8 more)

Related

• Loudspeaker directivity determines which curve predicts the room (similarity 0.91)
• Anechoic on-axis and sound power responses suffice to predict perceived loudspeaker quality (similarity 0.91)
• On-axis curves alone cannot predict loudspeaker sound quality (similarity 0.90)
• Highly regarded loudspeakers measured far from flat in anechoic response (similarity 0.88)
• Perceived loudspeaker sound quality depends only on amplitude responses (similarity 0.88)
• Room differences dominate loudspeaker differences when listeners cannot adapt (similarity 0.88)
• Listeners need some room sound but its required amount is unknown (similarity 0.87)
• Room acoustics contaminate loudspeaker listening tests needing controlled environments (similarity 0.87)
• The direct, on-axis sound dominates perceived loudspeaker quality in rooms. (similarity 0.87)
• Sound power alone cannot predict listener preference for loudspeakers (similarity 0.86)
• Leaving the first side wall reflective reveals off-axis loudspeaker behavior in tests (similarity 0.86)
• Perceived spectral balance matches on-axis response more than sound power or room curve (similarity 0.86)
• Loudspeaker off-axis response dominates in-room energy at the listening position. (similarity 0.86)
• Human listeners can identify loudspeaker qualities through rooms, while microphones cannot. (similarity 0.86)
• Loudspeaker quality depends on off-axis radiation because rooms reflect it (similarity 0.86)

Broader Connections

• Perceived loudspeaker sound quality depends only on amplitude responses #contradicts (0.85) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 711
• Room differences dominate loudspeaker differences when listeners cannot adapt #expands (0.75) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 547
• Trained listeners perceive flat spectra from loudspeakers whose on-axis response is flat #qualifies (0.72)
• Room acoustics requires modeling direct sound then early reflections #expands (0.72)