Why do Speakers Sound Brighter As Volume Gets Louder?

[Northwinds]

Higher the volume the more the high and mid frequencies are emphasized

 

[NH-MAN]

For those who have been and me having no experience in having a band, if a band is playing live does the bass player need more amplification to match the output of other instruments? Just curious.

Without any scientific facts to back it up as I never thought about it before, my mind is wanting to think yes.

 

[sKiZo]

Sounds a bit like my patent: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6341166B1/en

Hey now, that looks just like the patent I never filed, right to the coffee stains on the paperwork! Wonder what I did with the thing?

Wonder what this is stuck to the bottom of my coffee cup? ;-}

 

[oldflame]

Wish I had sounded brighter when I was louder, in the past. Now I try letting my woofers do the barking.

 

[rothwellaudio]

For those who have been and me having no experience in having a band, if a band is playing live does the bass player need more amplification to match the output of other instruments? Just curious.

Without any scientific facts to back it up as I never thought about it before, my mind is wanting to think yes.

Too many variables to answer definitively, but if you're talking about backline the bass player usually likes a high power amplifier so as to stay clean, whereas the guitarist usually likes a relatively low powered amplifier so it gives enough distortion. That's just a generalization of course.

 

[ernieb1536]

Loudspeaker distortion increases as the cone excursion increases (ie as it gets louder) and the distortion gives the perception of added brightness.

Could be as the amp goes from a-b the music is less detailed and spacial more compressed sounding as the amp has less headroom just s thought?

 

[JohnnyNapalm]

Personally, I have found that a more powerful amplifier has provided a more constant linear sq at increased listening levels. Everything remains in balance and I do not have the shrill I have experienced previously when hitting higher db’s. I have (when everyone is out) listened at my seating position at over 100db A weighted and can confirm the music sounds and feels excellent. Cheers.

 

[DEAFASABAT]

Perhaps clipping...

Moderate clipping short of being completely obvious overload distortion would do it. High frequency harmonic content not usually produced unless pushed into clipping, which becomes an audible component.

 

[grillebilly]

it's your room, I have no such issues with any of the 5 systems set up here.

I think just being in a normal sized room makes high volumes a challenge to sound “right”. Concerts where the rooms are huge seem to not be as harsh. I am not a fan of very loud music, albeit my wife telling me otherwise.