Subjective dominance as a basis for selecting frequency weightings

Torija Martinez, AJ; Flindell, IH; Self, RH

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to propose and illustrate a simple approach for the selection of frequency
weightings for the assessment of environmental and transportation noise. In recent years,
the A-frequency weighting has become almost universal except where existing standards and regulations
mandate the use of alternative weightings and/or frequency summation procedures, but even
where this has been based on extensive research, no real consensus has been achieved. The proposed
approach is based on the concept of subjective dominance, which does not always conform
to the physically dominant frequencies identified by the A- or other frequency weightings and summation
procedures used in measurements and/or predictions. The proposed approach is illustrated
by the results of a limited series of five listening tests that clearly demonstrate that no single objective
frequency weighting or summation procedure is capable of providing the best-fit to subjective
responses across a range of different contexts. Subjective dominance varies across different listening
contexts and situations, and should, therefore, be considered whenever noise management and
control decisions are being made. The proposed approach will naturally require further research
because of the wide range of different contexts and situations in which it might need to be applied.

Citation

Torija Martinez, A., Flindell, I., & Self, R. (2016). Subjective dominance as a basis for selecting frequency weightings. ˜The œJournal of the Acoustical Society of America (Online), 140(2), 843-854. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4960518

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 1, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 9, 2016
• Publication Date: Aug 9, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 3, 2019
• Journal: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA)
• Print ISSN: 0001-4966
• Volume: 140
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 843-854
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4960518
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4960518
• Related Public URLs: https://asa.scitation.org/journal/jas
• Additional Information: Funders : University of Malaga and the European Commission, seventh Framework Programme for R & D of the EU, granted within the People Programme [Co-funding of Regional, National, and International Programmes (COFUND)];Ministerio de Economıa y Competitividad of Spain; Grant Number: Agreement Grant No. 246550; Grant Number: COFUND2013-40259