Frequency Range Preference for Speech and Music
Harry F. Olson · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1947
Frequency range preference tests for reproduced speech and music indicate that listeners prefer a restricted frequency range in monaural reproduced speech and music. In order to obtain a better understanding of the reason for the preference of a restricted frequency range in reproduced sound, a fundamental all-acoustic frequency range preference test has been made. An acoustical filter was placed between the orchestra and the listeners and arranged so that the filter can be turned in and out. A sheer cloth curtain which transmits sound without any appreciable attenuation was placed between the acoustical filter and the listeners. The curtain was illuminated so that the listeners could not see what transpired behind the curtain. The response-frequency characteristic of the acoustical filter was 5000-cycle low pass transmission. The response approximated a good commercial radio or phonograph. The tests made up to the present time have been conducted in a small room which simulates the average living room in dimensions and acoustics. A six-piece orchestra playing popular and semi-classical music was used in these tests. Tests involving one thousand listeners indicated a preponderant preference for the full frequency range. Similar results have been obtained for speech.