Learning, a Major Factor Influencing Preferences for High-Fidelity Systems
Author(s): Kirk, Roger E.
Publication: Volume 5 Number 4 pp. 238-241; October 1957
Abstract: Frequency range preferences of 210 college students for reproduced
music and speech were determined by an A-B-A preference test. Two groups of
subjects then listened to music reproduced over a restricted frequency range
and a relatively unrestricted frequency range, respectively, for six and
one-half weeks. The results of a post-frequency range preferences test
indicate that: (1) learning plays an important role in determining
preferences for sound reproducing systems; (2) continued contact with a
particular system produces shifts in preference for this system; (3) the
average college student prefers music and speech reproduced over a
restricted frequency range rather than an unrestricted frequency range; and
(4) the frequency range preferences of college students are in part a
function of the type of music to which they are listening.


CONCLUSIONS
The average (listener) prefers music and speech reproduced with a restricted
frequency range rather with a relatively unrestricted frequency range. The
amount of frequency range restriction preferred by (listeners) is in part a
function of the type of material to which they are listening.
Learning plays an important role in determining listener preferences for
sound reproducing equipment. Continued contact with a particular system
produces preference for this system. The assumption that the listener's
previous auditory experience does not significantly affect his preferences
for sound reproducing equipment is untenable in 'the light of data presented
by this experiment