PIR predicts preference via smoothness cues, not the room curve itself

Evidence

These tests were totally different. Here, Olive has shown that listeners trained in recognizing resonances, the building blocks of the sounds we are interested in hearing, can describe, in physically measurable terms, why they prefer certain sounds. They told us that what they heard was best described by the on-axis and listening window curves—the direct sound. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1227 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Monotonic mode growth predicts perceptually smooth room response; Curve smoothness and flatness track perceived sound quality ratings; Trained listeners can verbally connect sound preference to measurable on-axis and listening-window curves — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1227 (+1 more)

Related

• Trained listeners can verbally connect sound preference to measurable on-axis and listening-window curves (similarity 0.87)
• Listener preference is driven mostly by timbral neutrality across the listening window (similarity 0.86)
• Monotonic mode growth predicts perceptually smooth room response (similarity 0.83)
• Loudspeaker directivity determines which curve predicts the room (similarity 0.82)
• Fine-grained anechoic measurement statistics can near-perfectly predict listener preference rankings (similarity 0.82)
• Listener-preferred headphone response mirrors a neutral loudspeaker’s in-room response (similarity 0.82)
• Room curves cannot define perceived sound quality on their own (similarity 0.80)
• Sound power predicts room response for omnidirectional speakers while directivity shapes room curves (similarity 0.80)
• The direct, on-axis sound dominates perceived loudspeaker quality in rooms. (similarity 0.80)
• Smooth flat on- and off-axis response correlates with subjective preference. (similarity 0.80)
• Independent large-venue preference studies across 47 years converge on the same target curve (similarity 0.79)
• On-axis curves alone cannot predict loudspeaker sound quality (similarity 0.79)
• The preferred headphone EQ matches the loudspeaker’s predicted in-room response. (similarity 0.79)
• Preferred large-venue room curves converged across 47 years of independent experiments. (similarity 0.79)
• On-axis flatness and smooth off-axis response predict 75% of listening preference (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Monotonic mode growth predicts perceptually smooth room response #corroborates (0.82)
• Curve smoothness and flatness track perceived sound quality ratings #corroborates (0.80)
• Trained listeners can verbally connect sound preference to measurable on-axis and listening-window curves #qualifies (0.72) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1227
• Independent large-venue preference studies across 47 years converge on the same target curve #corroborates (0.70)