# Perceived directional changes in sound over a loudspeaker
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 20, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729 "2008-08-20T22:31:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729/1 "2008-08-20T22:31:54Z")
I was at a baseball game last night and noticed the same phenomenom I experience every time I’m at the stadium. When something is being piped through the speakers, be it music or the announcer’s voice, it seems like the direction the sound comes from is constantly shifting. One second, it will be very loud and clear as though the sound is coming directly at me, and the next, it will shift and sound as though the sound is bouncing off a distant wall.
I’m just wondering what causes this, or if (as unlikely as it seems), there’s just a problem with the speakers at Dodger Stadium? I can’t specifically recall whether this happens at other stadiums I’ve been to.
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### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729/2 "2008-08-20T23:01:55Z")
Does Dodger Stadium have a single bigass speaker (like the Oakland Coliseum) or small ones all over the place (like places designed by people with ears)?
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### Author:  [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729/3 "2008-08-20T23:05:08Z")
Was there any wind? That can make a difference, in my experience.
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### Author:  [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729/4 "2008-08-20T23:19:24Z")
The way you turned your head? Different frequencies bouncing off different materials?
Perhaps most significant, the [perceived loudness](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness) ?
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### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729/5 "2008-08-21T00:47:22Z")
[QUOTE=PaulParkhead]
Was there any wind? That can make a difference, in my experience.
[/QUOTE]
This is the only factor that varies over time. Sound is carried by air; move the air, and the apparent position of the sound changes.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729/6 "2008-08-21T02:50:25Z")
Yes, it’s the wind shifting unless somebody is screwing with the sound board.
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### Author:  [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729/7 "2008-08-21T03:25:42Z")
It is essentially one gigantic speaker in center field, and although it doesn’t get really windy or anything, there can definitely be a changing breeze.
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### Author:  [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-directional-changes-in-sound-over-a-loudspeaker/460729/8 "2008-08-21T13:43:42Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas]
This is the only factor that varies over time. Sound is carried by air; move the air, and the apparent position of the sound changes.
[/QUOTE]
Frequency will also vary with respect to time. Different materials will absorb different frequencies with different effectiveness.