Loudness

 Most sounds that we hear are well above absolute threshold.

What can we say about their loudness?

• Example: How loud is a 500-Hz tone that is presented at 25

dB above absolute threshold (i.e., at 25 dB SL)?
• Example: If you turn the volume of that tone up by 10 dB
more how much louder will it become? If you turn it down
by 10 dB how much quieter will it become?
• Example: A 50-Hz tone, a 500-Hz tone, and a 5000-Hz tone
are all presented at 60 dB SPL. Will they all sound about
equally loud?

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Measuring Loudness
 Direct Magnitude Estimation
 This is one method for exploring the relationship between
intensity and loudness.
• First, present a Standard Stimulus at a fixed intensity and
assign it a number that represents its standard loudness.
• Then present a Variable Stimulus and ask the listener to rate
the loudness of this variable stimulus in comparison to the
Standard.

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Measuring Loudness
 Direct Magnitude Estimation (con’t)
• NOTE: The listener should provide ratio estimates of
loudness of the variable sound in comparison to the standard.
– Standard sound is assigned a Loudness rating of 10.
– If variable sound sounds twice as loud: Rate it at 20.
– If variable sound sounds half as loud: Rate it at 5.

• Do this for a wide range of Variable Stimuli, and then look at

the relationship between the variable intensities and their
corresponding ratings.

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Measuring Loudness
 Direct Magnitude Production
 Another method for exploring the relationship between intensity
and loudness.
• First, present a Standard Stimulus at a fixed intensity and
assign it a number that represents its standard loudness.
• Then allow listener to adjust the intensity of the Variable
Stimulus and until it sound like it should has a certain loudness
level.
• Example: If the standard has a loudness rating of 10, adjust the
variable sound until you would give its loudness a rating of 5.

• Do this for a wide range of Variable Stimulus Ratings, and then

look at the relationship between the variable intensities and
their corresponding ratings.

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Measuring Loudness
 Direct Scaling Methods (con’t)
 Common Finding: There is a direct linear relationship between
perceived loudness and sound intensity (measured in dB).

NOTE: The unit of

loudness estimation
is the SONE.

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Measuring Loudness
 Matching Loudness Across Frequencies
 Recall that absolute threshold is frequency dependent. What
about loudness?
 Can use a loudness balancing procedure to find out.
• Listener must adjust the intensity of the variable stimulus to
match the loudness of the standard stimulus (ignoring pitch
differences).

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Measuring Loudness
Equal Loudness Contours

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Measuring Loudness
 Fletcher Munson Curves

NOTE: Loudness “catches up” at low frequencies.

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Measuring Loudness