Reduced playback levels cause timbral shifts and lost low bass

Evidence

The phon scale is a subjective scale of loudness based on the judgments of listeners to match the loudness of tones to reference tones at 1 kHz. The curve for N phones intersects 1 kHz at N dB(SPL) by definition, and it can be seen that the relative shape of the phon curves flattens out at higher sound levels, as shown in Figure 2.13. The relative loudness of different frequencies is not preserved, and therefore the perceived frequency balance of sound varies as the listening level is altered. This is an effect we have all heard when the volume of a recording is turned down and the bass and treble components appear suppressed relative to the midrange frequencies, and the sound becomes “duller” and “thinner.” — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 626 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Nonlinear distortion generates new frequencies that change timbre with volume; Turning down volume suppresses perceived bass and treble relative to midrange — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 626; Small bass-level changes strongly alter perceived spectral balance (+1 more)

Related

• Volume changes alter perceived frequency balance, not just loudness (similarity 0.93)
• Small bass-level changes strongly alter perceived spectral balance (similarity 0.93)
• Turning down volume suppresses perceived bass and treble relative to midrange (similarity 0.92)
• The ear’s frequency response means quiet playback dulls bass and treble (similarity 0.91)
• Raising a sound’s loudness shifts its perceived pitch except near 1-2 kHz. (similarity 0.88)
• Listener preference tolerances on headphone frequency response are narrowest through midrange (similarity 0.87)
• Bass frequencies need far smaller level changes to halve perceived loudness (similarity 0.84)
• Leakage-dependent bass makes closed-back headphone sound quality vary across listeners (similarity 0.83)
• Spectral balance errors predict headphone preference ratings independent of resonance Q (similarity 0.83)
• Adding lower-frequency sound can decrease perceived sharpness (similarity 0.83)
• Equalizer adjustments at specific frequencies produce predictable perceptual shifts in timbre (similarity 0.83)
• A ten-phon level reduction halves perceived loudness (similarity 0.82)
• Bass level errors cause perceived treble excess and vice versa (similarity 0.82)
• Perceptual adaptation to timbre dulls equalizer effects and drives endless compensatory boosts. (similarity 0.82)
• Loudness compensation reduces effectively to a bass tone control (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Turning down volume suppresses perceived bass and treble relative to midrange #expands (0.95) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 626
• Nonlinear distortion generates new frequencies that change timbre with volume #expands (0.90)
• Small bass-level changes strongly alter perceived spectral balance #corroborates (0.80)
• Equalizer adjustments at specific frequencies produce predictable perceptual shifts in timbre #expands (0.75)