THE EFFECT OF INDUCED LOUDNESS REDUCTION ON LOUDNESS MATCHING: THE ADJUSTMENT ERROR

Abstract

In the matching of loudness by the method of adjustment, one sound—the variable—is varied in intensity and the other—the standard—is fixed. Listeners usually judge a sound as softer when it is the variable than when it is the standard. They set sound A to a higher level to match sound B when A is the variable than when B is the variable. This difference or adjustment error may be as large as 30 dB but is usually under 5 dB. A large part if not all of the error appears to result from induced loudness reduction, or ILR. ILR is the loudness decline imposed by a stronger tone on a weaker one that follows within a few seconds. Its magnitude and temporal characteristics, including formation and disappearance, are compatible with the characteristics of the experimental conditions that give rise to the adjustment error.