Steady-state frequency response is the reliable indicator of audible room resonances
Evidence
The meaningful measurement is the steady-state response. It reveals the existence of audible resonances that are confirmed in waterfalls, but waterfalls with high-frequency resolution have such poor time resolution that they provide misleading visual information. In audio forum discussions and manufacturers’ data there have been numerous examples of erroneous conclusions being drawn from waterfall data of this kind. Usually, the authors don’t reveal the parameters of the measurement; in some cases one suspects that they did not know, or know that it mattered. In terms of the audibility of resonances in rooms, the reliable indicator is the steady-state frequency response, not the time-domain response, certainly not a waterfall that artificially prolongs the apparent ringing. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 956
Categorization
- XREF: Connects to the broader theme that measurement display methods shape conclusions in other fields (see James Gleick / visualization bias discussions). — connects to: Power fluctuations persist even where resonances overlap completely — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1154; Hard-walled rooms behave as three-dimensional resonators with many audible modal frequencies — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 291; Modal decay analysis governs room acoustics below the critical frequency — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2038 (+4 more)
- corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 956
Broader Connections
- A transition frequency separates modal from ray acoustical behavior in rooms
#qualifies(0.80) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 475 - Modal decay analysis governs room acoustics below the critical frequency
#expands(0.78) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2038