Perceptual adaptation to timbre dulls equalizer effects and drives endless compensatory boosts.
Evidence
When using equalizers to modify the timbre of a musical sound it is important to be careful to avoid “psychoacoustic fatigue”—this arises because the ear and brain adapt to sounds. This has the effect of dulling the effect of a given timbre modification over a period of time. Therefore one puts in yet more boost, which one adapts to, and so on. The only remedy for this condition is to take a break from listening to that particular sound for a while and then listen to it again later. Note that this effect can happen at normal listening levels and so is different to the temporary threshold shifts that happen at excessive sound levels. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 2421 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Ear and brain adaptation dulls timbre modifications, spurring ever more boost — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 2421; Flattening sound power via bass-shy or treble-hot designs harms perceived quality
Broader Connections
- Ear and brain adaptation dulls timbre modifications, spurring ever more boost
#corroborates(1.00) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 2421 - Flattening sound power via bass-shy or treble-hot designs harms perceived quality
#complicates(0.70)