Resonance Q factors below about 16 are subjectively imperceptible to listeners.

Evidence

Avis et al. (2007) examined the audibility of a room resonance as a function of Q, without specific control in modeling or in listening test programs that favors either decay time or spectral variance. Q is translatable into a corresponding decay time, so there is continuity of intent. A summary result is that “reductions to the Q factor below a value of about 16 will be subjectively imperceptible” which translates into calculated modal decay times of about 1 s at 32 Hz, 0.7 s at 50 Hz and 0.28 s for 125 Hz. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1650

Categorization

• DEFINE: Q factor here equals resonance sharpness; gives concrete audible-imperceptibility thresholds per frequency.