Apparent source width: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description |Audible impression of a spatially extended sound source}}

'''Apparent source width (ASW)''' isrefers to the audibleperceived impression"spatial extent" of a spatially extended sound source. This [[Psychoacoustics|psychoacoustic]] impressionphenomenon resultsis frominfluenced by both the sound radiation characteristicspattern of the source itself and the acoustic properties of the [[acoustic space]]environment intoin which it is radiatinglocated. WideA sourcewide widthsASW areis desiredoften bya listenersdesirable ofcharacteristic, musicparticularly becausein thesegenres are associated with the sound oflike [[acousticclassical music]], [[opera]], [[classical music]], and [[historically informed performance]], as it is associated with the immersive sound of acoustic spaces. ResearchThe concerningstudy of ASW comesdraws upon research from thevarious fieldfields, ofincluding [[room acoustics]], [[architectural acoustics]] and, [[auralization]], as well as [[musical acoustics]], [[psychoacoustics]], and [[systematic musicology]].

{{technical |date=July 2018}}

'''Apparent source width (ASW)''' is the audible impression of a spatially extended sound source. This [[psychoacoustic]] impression results from the sound radiation characteristics of the source and the properties of the [[acoustic space]] into which it is radiating. Wide source widths are desired by listeners of music because these are associated with the sound of [[acoustic music]], [[opera]], [[classical music]], and [[historically informed performance]]. Research concerning ASW comes from the field of [[room acoustics]], [[architectural acoustics]] and [[auralization]], as well as [[musical acoustics]], [[psychoacoustics]] and [[systematic musicology]].

==Physics and perception==

Apparent source width is the aurally perceived extent of a sound source. Sometimes, it is defined as the impression that a source sounds larger than its visible size.<ref name="blau" /> The impression results from several auditory cues, which are affected by the sound radiation characteristics of the source itself and by characteristics of the room. Since the term ''apparent source width'' has been used a lot in the field of subjective room acoustics to characterize how the room affects the perception of source size, the term ''perceived source extent'' has been introduced to highlight that the perception results from both the sound source and the room.<ref name="psfs" />

The [[auditory system]] has mechanisms that separate the processing of late [[reverberation]] from the processing of direct sound and early [[Reflection (physics)|reflections]], which is referred to as the [[precedence effect]]. While the late reverberation contributes to the [[perception]] of '''{{vanchor|listener envelopment}}''' and reverberance, the direct sound and the early reflections mostly affect [[Sound localization|source localization]], intimacy and the apparent source width.<ref name="beranek" /> The balance of early and late arriving sound affects the perceived clarity, warmth and brilliance.