Strong direct sound without supporting reflections causes in-head localization in loudspeaker listening

Evidence

In an anechoic chamber it can occur when listening to a single loudspeaker, especially on the frontal axis, in which case front-back reversals are also frequent occurrences. This phenomenon is so strong that it need not be a “blind” situation. I have experienced looking at a loudspeaker in front of me, knowing that it was the only loudspeaker in the anechoic chamber, and hearing the sound in my head or behind me. It is very disconcerting. Interestingly, a demonstration of four-loudspeaker Ambisonic recordings played in an anechoic chamber yielded an auditory impression that was almost totally within the head. This was a great disappointment to the gathered enthusiasts, all of whom anticipated an approximation of perfection. It suggested that, psychoacoustically, something fundamentally important was not being captured, or communicated to the ears. An identical setup in a normally reflective room sounded far more realistic, even though the room reflections were a substantial corruption of the encoded sounds arriving at the ears. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 737

Categorization

• CANDY: The image of knowing you face a single loudspeaker in an anechoic chamber yet hearing the sound behind you inside your head is a vivid, shareable anecdote.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 737
• XREF: connects to: Delayed loudspeakers preserve direct-sound localization in public venues.; Direct sound determines localization, loudness, and perceived spectrum quality — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1546; Head movement resolves directional ambiguity and explains headphone sounds seeming internal — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 290 (+1 more)

Related

• Delayed loudspeakers preserve direct-sound localization in public venues. (similarity 0.92)
• Reflected sound anchors external source localization while its absence pulls sound into the head (similarity 0.92)
• First-arriving direct sound dominates localization and loudspeaker images are built from mono and double-mono (similarity 0.86)
• Direct sound determines localization, loudness, and perceived spectrum quality (similarity 0.85)
• The first-arriving direct sound perceptually dominates despite carrying less energy (similarity 0.85)
• Loudspeaker directivity and early reflections affect sound quality and imaging (similarity 0.85)
• Room boundary reflections are the second loudest sounds a listener hears (similarity 0.83)
• Headphone reproduction lacks the spatial cues loudspeakers in rooms provide (similarity 0.82)
• Non-environment rooms suppress all but direct sound for clearer audio detail and imaging (similarity 0.82)
• Highly regarded loudspeakers measured far from flat in anechoic response (similarity 0.82)
• Direct sound governs perceived quality in rooms, not room curves (similarity 0.81)
• Near-wall listening positions create early strong rear reflections (similarity 0.81)
• Ear localizes to first-arriving sound unless delayed signal exceeds 12 dB louder (similarity 0.81)
• Loudspeaker off-axis response dominates in-room energy at the listening position. (similarity 0.81)
• Early binaural headphone studies localized sounds inside the head rather than externally. (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Direct sound determines localization, loudness, and perceived spectrum quality #expands (0.85) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1546
• Head movement resolves directional ambiguity and explains headphone sounds seeming internal #expands (0.75) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 290