The focus of this study was to investigate if the color of a listening environment might influence perceived audio quality. Chen and Cabrara (2020) found that color influenced auditory perception and preference in a virtual concert hall. To determine if the observed effect might translate to a real environment, this study asked subjects to listen to a random selection of classical music samples and rate timbral balance, spatial localization, and naturalness (Pedersen 2015) in different colored lightings. Ten graduate students in audio engineering with self-reported normal hearing participated in the listening experiment. Subjects completed two sessions: one with colored lights illuminating the listening room and the other with only neutral light. Results revealed a significant effect of color for all three attributes. where listeners in the red-lit environment rated audio samples higher than ratings for any other color. Additionally, matched-pairs tests between sessions suggested that Blue had a significant effect on timbral balance, and Yellow on timbral balance and naturalness. Consistent with prior observations, results here reinforce the idea that auditory perception can be highly influenced by visual factors. Audio-visual designers can take these findings into account when preparing for events such as concerts and interactive art exhibits.
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