Listener Preference for Concert Sound Levels: Do Louder Performances Sound Better?

摘要

Historically, industrial noise has been the primary reason for hearing loss. In recent times, one of the causes of high frequency hearing loss (HFHL) among teenagers and young adolescents has been high sound levels from nightclubs, concert halls, and headphones for personal music listening (so-called recreational noise exposure). The average sound levels at concerts range up to 100-105 decibels due to the use of sound reinforcement systems. Surveys among concert listeners reveal that they predominantly complain about excessively loud sound, not about poor audibility due to low volume. This work describes experimental research on the preferred sound level at the Nordea Concert Hall in Tallinn using live music samples. The preferred loudness was obtained with sound pressure levels Laeq between 73 and 85 dB. No significant correlation was found between loudness and overall pleasantness. The most influential factor on overall pleasantness was fidelity-naturalness of sound. This is the first study where the experience of sound level in concert-goers as consumers has been investigated using psychological methods.