The masking-threshold is the human-defined level, expressed in decibels relative to a reference, below which a target tone is inaudible when presented simultaneously with a masker. It is parameterized by masker level, frequency, bandwidth, temporal offset, and listener state, and is operationalized through psychoacoustic experiments, equal-loudness contours, and computational models that map frequency-dependent audibility. It persists via standardized measurement protocols, ISO/ITU documentation, codec design documents, and teaching in acoustics. [formal: limen occultationis | substrate: mind | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.11]
Accepted ontology entry
masking-threshold
The masking-threshold is the human-defined level, expressed in decibels relative to a reference, below which a target tone is inaudible when presented simultaneously with a masker. It is parameterized by masker level, frequency, bandwidth,…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made psychoacoustic construct that defines the level below which a sound is inaudible in the presence of a masker, built to persist in audio engineering standards, hearing models, and coding specifications.
Names and aliases
- masking-thresholden · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmsthfps6014z13a4dzw2hmvcDERIVED_FROM →
Masking-threshold is a specific psychoacoustic construct that emerged within the broader field of psychoacoustics. The general framework of psychoacoustics existed first; the threshold concept is a derived specialization.
- cmsu0ozi6003g3ilrqah2gonrSERVES →
Masking-threshold is maintained and refined for the sake of perceptual coding systems, which use the threshold to decide which components can be discarded. The concept is developed and taught explicitly to enable perceptual coders.
- cmsorsyn802qbjlss3cb2ruiyDEPENDS_ON →
Masking-threshold is the sound-pressure level at which a tone becomes inaudible due to a louder masker at a given frequency. It is fundamentally defined as a function of frequency — remove the concept of frequency and the masking-threshold has no parameters, no domain, no operation. The which-came-first test: frequency (epoch 0) predates masking-threshold (epoch 0.02), consistent with a dependency pointing from newer to older.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Aug 17, 2026, 2:14 AM UTC
- Content hash
- 47c58f0ed09646152216c3926a3edf7f180b938546650de12704f0522527d7af