The ear’s sound-level-dependent nonlinearities cannot be substituted or corrected for

Evidence

Condition (a) cannot be perfectly satisfied because music has dynamic range and different components of the program at different levels will require different compensations. Music has large dynamic range, ppp to fff, as shown in Figure 9.3. The ear is a non-linear device generating distortions, pitch shifts and more that are sound-level dependent. These cannot be replaced. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 914

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: The insight that the ear’s own nonlinear distortions are part of the intended listening experience and cannot be replaced by any signal-processing correction is a foundational constraint on all loudness compensation.