Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between perceived distance and loudness. The phenomenon of visual capture was used to manipulate the apparent location of certain sound sources in an environment which included multiple visual and auditory sources varying in direction and distance. In experiment 1, a Near sound source was located 10° to the left of the listener's midline at a distance of 2m; a Far source was located 10° to the right, at a distance of 5m. In experiment 2, three auditory sources were located 15° to the left and right, and at the midline, all at a distance of 3m. Three auditory distance cues (sound-level, frequency spectrum and reverberation) were available to determine the perceived depth of the test sounds. The perceived distances of all sources were effectively modified in experimental conditions by presentation of some of the visual stimuli. The results indicated a tendency for the perceived loudness of the sounds to be positively associated with their perceived distance, despite the absence of any physical change in the sounds.