Preference, localization, attention, and the limit of localization distance (LLD)
David Griesinger · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2018
Recent work by Lokki et al. has found that a perception he calls “proximity” is a major component of preference in concert halls. In this talk we propose that proximity is perceived when sources are close enough or clear enough that they can be sharply localized and understood. In halls and rooms we find this ability abruptly disappears at a critical distance from the source, the Limit of Localization Distance, or LLD. We find that proximity attracts and holds attention, which is a major reason cinemas and drama theaters have dry acoustics and strong direct sound paths. In this talk we will describe the physics behind the perception of proximity, why it has not been previously recognized, how to predict where the LLD will occur from a binaural impulse response, and how to optimize proximity in halls, theaters, and classrooms.