Growth of loudness, annoyance, and noisiness of noise‐tone complexes

Abstract

A previous investigation [Hellman and Aylward, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Suppl. 1 67, S7 (1980)] was extended to include the effect of spectral shape on loudness, annoyance, and noisiness (perceived magnitude). Single tones were added to three different broadband noise spectra: flat, low‐pass, and high‐pass. Judgments of perceived magnitude were obtained by absolute magnitude estimation (AME) supplemented by loudness matching. Results obtained with the three noise spectra show that the growth of perceived magnitude is a nonmonotonic function of the overall SPL of the noise‐tone complex. More summation between tone and noise was found for relatively small tone‐to‐noise ratios (+5, +10, +15 dB), as measured in ⅓‐octave bands, than for relatively large tone‐to‐noise ratios (+20 dB and greater). Data analysis suggests that the extent of the increments and decrements in perceived magnitude depends on the absolute loudnesses of the component stimuli, the interaction between a specific tone frequency and noise spectrum, and the attribute judged. An attempt is made to quantify the observed effects. [Supported by NASA‐Langley Research Center.]