The listening room, not the loudspeaker, determines perceived bass quality.

Evidence

Below the transition frequency, in the gray shaded area in Figure 11.2, it is evident that listeners responded to something closer to the low-frequency response in the room than to the anechoic frequency response. This is the ultimate limitation of all such models, in that the listening room and the arrangements within it determine the bass level and quality. With bass accounting for about 30% of the overall subjective rating, this is a matter of great importance and it implies that if there is to be parity among listening situations—professional and consumer—there needs to be substantial control over the low frequencies in the room. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1223

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the transition-frequency boundary between anechoic and room-dominated response.