Re: [AUDITORY] Level setting with headphones + own device (Bob Masta )

Subject: Re: [AUDITORY] Level setting with headphones + own device
From:    Bob Masta  <audio@xxxxxxxx>
Date:    Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:49:52 -0400

I don't know if this would apply to your experiments, but here's the metho=
d
that I used for one that involved listening to white noise at 30 dB above
threshold:  Subjects first adjusted their volume control while listening t=
o
on-off pulsing noise that was generated with the raw signal waveform reduc=
ed by
30 dB. When the subjects found their threshold, the waveform was restored =
to
its full level, thus 30 dB above threshold.

This works because devices have separate attenuators that operate on the r=
aw
signal output.  The attenuators may not have any known calibration that yo=
u can
control, but you *do* have absolute control over the raw signal level.

Bob Masta

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
On 26 Mar 2026 at 15:40, David Jackson Morris wrote:

>
>     Dear auditory colleagues,
>     =A0
>     Is anyone aware of a robust volume setting procedure for when partic=
ipants
>     are doing speech perception tasks with their own devices, say with o=
nline
>     testing (headphones connected to tablets, laptops, etc.)? =A0 I know=
 there
>     are some convincing binaural tests to check people are using headpho=
nes, but
>     what about the overall level setting? =A0 Best David =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=
 David
>     Jackson Morris Associate Professor Ph.D., L.T.C.L. =A0 University of
>     Copenhagen Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics Audiology an=
d Speech
>     Pathology Bygning 22 Emil Holms Kanal 2 2300 Copenhagen S =A0
>     www.researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/persons/david-jackson-morris/ =A0 Logo=
 for
>     K&oslash;benhavns Universitet =A0 =A0 How we protect personal data =
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