
Sound Reproduction
The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones
Focal Press
4th Edition
Will be published approx. on 28. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
554 pages
978-1-032-76193-0 (ISBN)
Description
This fourth edition of Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones explains the physical and perceptual processes that are involved in sound reproduction and demonstrates how to use these processes to create high-quality listening experiences in stereo and multichannel formats.
Understanding the principles of sound production is necessary to achieve the goals of sound reproduction in spaces ranging from recording control rooms and home listening rooms to large cinemas. This revised edition includes:
Sections on 2-channel stereo, headphones, binaural listening and DIY multiple-subwoofer solutions to room resonance problems
Measurable performance guidelines for loudspeaker designers
Criteria for the selection of timbrally neutral loudspeakers and headphones using industry-standard measurements
Guidance for how best to employ loudspeakers in stereo and multichannel formats in small rooms with problematic bass resonances
Advice on identifying and separating the recording and playback factors that influence sound quality and the spatial/enveloping perceptions that contribute to our satisfaction
This is essential reading for loudspeaker designers, recording professionals and educators, and aspiring professionals learning in and out of the classroom, as well as being accessible for audio enthusiasts looking to enrich their hobby.
Understanding the principles of sound production is necessary to achieve the goals of sound reproduction in spaces ranging from recording control rooms and home listening rooms to large cinemas. This revised edition includes:
Sections on 2-channel stereo, headphones, binaural listening and DIY multiple-subwoofer solutions to room resonance problems
Measurable performance guidelines for loudspeaker designers
Criteria for the selection of timbrally neutral loudspeakers and headphones using industry-standard measurements
Guidance for how best to employ loudspeakers in stereo and multichannel formats in small rooms with problematic bass resonances
Advice on identifying and separating the recording and playback factors that influence sound quality and the spatial/enveloping perceptions that contribute to our satisfaction
This is essential reading for loudspeaker designers, recording professionals and educators, and aspiring professionals learning in and out of the classroom, as well as being accessible for audio enthusiasts looking to enrich their hobby.
More details
Series
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development, Professional Reference, Undergraduate Advanced, and Undergraduate Core
Illustrations
3 s/w Tabellen, 20 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 232 s/w Zeichnungen, 252 s/w Abbildungen
3 Tables, black and white; 232 Line drawings, black and white; 20 Halftones, black and white; 252 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 248 mm
Width: 175 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
1192 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-76193-0 (9781032761930)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Floyd E. Toole | Sean Olive | Todd Welti
Sound Reproduction
The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones
E-Book
10/2025
4th Edition
Focal Press
€78.99
Available for download

Floyd E. Toole | Sean Olive | Todd Welti
Sound Reproduction
The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones
E-Book
10/2025
4th Edition
Focal Press
€78.99
Available for download

Floyd E. Toole | Sean Olive | Todd Welti
Sound Reproduction
The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones
Book
10/2025
4th Edition
Focal Press
€215.41
Shipment within 10-20 days
Previous edition

Book
08/2017
3rd Edition
Routledge
€79.00
Shipment within 10-20 days
Persons
Floyd E. Toole, PhD, is a retired NRC Canada scientist and VP Acoustical Engineering for Harman International. He has won AES Silver and Gold Medals, CEDIA and ALMA lifetime achievement awards, and the IOA Peter Barnett Memorial Award. He is a Fellow of ASA, a past president of AES, and is in the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame.
Sean Olive, PhD, is a senior fellow for Harman International. From 1986 to 1993 he was a research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada. He is a member of the Acoustical Society of America, and a fellow and past president of the Audio Engineering Society.
Todd Welti holds a Master's degree in acoustics from Aalborg University and has over 24 years of research experience at Harman, earning more than 15 patents. A former acoustical consultant, he has contributed to the industry as an author, CEDIA SME, AES committee member and educator. He "retired" in 2025 and currently consults on audio projects that interest him.
Sean Olive, PhD, is a senior fellow for Harman International. From 1986 to 1993 he was a research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada. He is a member of the Acoustical Society of America, and a fellow and past president of the Audio Engineering Society.
Todd Welti holds a Master's degree in acoustics from Aalborg University and has over 24 years of research experience at Harman, earning more than 15 patents. A former acoustical consultant, he has contributed to the industry as an author, CEDIA SME, AES committee member and educator. He "retired" in 2025 and currently consults on audio projects that interest him.
Content
1. An Overview of the Research 2. A New Standard for Loudspeaker Measurements 3. Perspectives on Sound Production, Recording, and Reproduction 4. Sound Reproduction: Part One-Mono to Stereo 5. Loudspeakers, Rooms, Recordings and Adaptation: Key Factors in What and How We Hear 6. The Perception and Measurement of Reflections 7. Space: A Motivator for More Channels 8. Audio Formats: Part Two-Multichannel Audio 9. The Perceptual and Physical Dimensions of Sound 10. Subjective Measurements: Turning Opinion Into Fact 11. Closing the Loop: Predicting Listener Preferences From Measurements 12. Room Acoustics and Acoustical Devices 13. Acoustics: Adjacent-Boundary Effects 14. Below the Transition Region: Optimizing the Experience 15. Headphones: The Perception and Measurement of Sound Quality 16. Hearing Loss and Hearing Conservation 17. Summary and Conclusions