The ear’s just-noticeable amplitude difference depends on signal type, level, and frequency

Evidence

The second limit is the just noticeable change in amplitude. This is strongly dependent on the nature of the signal, its frequency, and its ampli­ tude. For broad-band noise the just noticeable difference in amplitude is 0.5 to 1 dB when the sound level lies between 20 and 100 dB(SPL) relative to a threshold of 0 dB(SPL). Below 20 dB(SPL) the ear is less sensitive to changes in sound level. For pure sine waves, however, the sensitivity to change is markedly different and is a strong function of both amplitude and frequency. For example, at 1 kHz the just noticeable amplitude change var­ ies from 3 dB at 10 dB(SPL) to 0.3 dB at 80 dB(SPL). — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 636

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the just noticeable difference (JND) in amplitude as a core psychoacoustic sensitivity measure with concrete dB figures.
• XREF: connects to: The ear’s amplitude sensitivity varies with loudness and tonal complexity — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 648; Ear sensitivity depends jointly on frequency and on sound level — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 625; Ear frequency response varies with amplitude, especially at low frequencies. (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• The ear’s amplitude sensitivity varies with loudness and tonal complexity #corroborates (0.92) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 648
• Ear sensitivity depends jointly on frequency and on sound level #corroborates (0.88) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 625
• Auditory sensitivity varies nonuniformly across the frequency range #corroborates (0.85) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 648
• Amplitude discrimination depends on relative loudness increment, not absolute change #expands (0.82) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1167
• Sound audibility depends on both its level and its frequency #expands (0.80) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 971
• The ear’s frequency response is level-dependent, favoring mid frequencies at low volume #corroborates (0.78)
• Cochlear hearing loss spares amplitude modulation detection but distorts perceived fluctuation depth #complicates (0.78) — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 816
• Ear frequency response varies with amplitude, especially at low frequencies. #qualifies (0.75)
• The ear’s upper excitation slope is essential for detecting amplitude modulation at high levels #complicates (0.75) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1137
• The ear’s frequency selectivity is imperfect and worsens at higher frequencies #complicates (0.72) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 477