Sound intensity changes perceived pitch of pure tones except near 1–2 kHz

Evidence

If the intensity of a sine wave is varied between 40 dBSPL and 90 dBSPL while keeping its f0 constant, a change in pitch is perceived for all f0 values other than those around 1–2 kHz. For f0 values greater than 2 kHz the pitch becomes sharper as the intensity is raised, and for f0 values below 1 kHz the pitch becomes flatter as the intensity is raised. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 935

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the octave-confusion literature in psychoacoustics and to how synthesizers produce audible pitch glides when levels change.
• DEFINE: Illustrates the intensity-pitch interaction, a classic example of secondary (non-f0) pitch cues.