Trained listeners perceive flat spectra from loudspeakers whose on-axis response is flat
Evidence
In these experiments trained listeners were able to draw curves of spectral trends—crude frequency responses—describing what they heard in the listening room. All the high-scoring loudspeakers were described as having flattish spectra (above the transition frequency), a trend that matches the flattish on-axis/listening window curves for all of the corresponding anechoic measurements. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1221
Categorization
Category: Factual Claims
- XREF: Connects to the earlier finding (Figure 2.4) that the direct sound dominates spectral identification — the trained-listener drawing experiments directly confirm it.
Related
- Humans detect spectral tilts as small as 1 dB across the audible range (similarity 0.87)
- Perceived spectral balance matches on-axis response more than sound power or room curve (similarity 0.86)
- Trained listeners can draw accurate spectral-balance curves of what they hear (similarity 0.86)
- Highly regarded loudspeakers measured far from flat in anechoic response (similarity 0.86)
- Blind listening shows listeners consistently prefer flat, smooth anechoic frequency response (similarity 0.85)
- Trained listeners can verbally connect sound preference to measurable on-axis and listening-window curves (similarity 0.85)
- Real loudspeakers show flat magnitude response only below 800 Hz with a midrange dip (similarity 0.85)
- Loudspeaker directivity determines which curve predicts the room (similarity 0.85)
- Anechoic on-axis and sound power responses suffice to predict perceived loudspeaker quality (similarity 0.85)
- Listeners prefer flat amplitude response but are insensitive to phase shift (similarity 0.84)
- Flattening sound power via bass-shy or treble-hot designs harms perceived quality (similarity 0.84)
- On-axis response alone cannot predict how a loudspeaker sounds in a room (similarity 0.84)
- Listener preferences correlate visually with smooth, flat anechoic on- and off-axis response. (similarity 0.84)
- Smoother, flatter, wider-bandwidth on-axis curves predict higher subjective loudspeaker ratings. (similarity 0.83)
- Highly regarded hifi loudspeakers had wildly non-flat anechoic responses (similarity 0.82)
Broader Connections
- Curve smoothness and flatness track perceived sound quality ratings
#corroborates(0.80) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 174 - Highly regarded loudspeakers measured far from flat in anechoic response
#complicates(0.75) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 66 - Masking noise prevents listeners from using unintended spectral cues
#complicates(0.75) — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 1031 - Listeners can perceptually separate loudspeaker timbre from room coloration in comparisons
#qualifies(0.70) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1314