Water soundscape and listening impression

Abstract

This paper presents the preference of water soundscape through listening evaluation. As meditation, listening to water sound is a tool that often use to provide positive emotion and psychological restoration. Twenty water soundscape samples were chosen based on natural and man-made sounds, as well as the sound in relation to the architecture and materiality. A semantic differential questionnaire was created with nine pairs of contractual sound qualities. Sixty-six architectural students with normal hearing condition were participated in this listening evaluation. The result has shown that 92% of the participants have positive impression to a soft quiet mid frequency sound (gentle stream) due to the listening impression of relax (88%) and comfort (89%) qualities. On the contrary, 77% of the participants have a negative impression for a loud intense broadband sound (rain on glass roof) due to the listening impression of noisy (82%) and agitating (80%) qualities. Sixty-two percent of the participants prefer rain on water sound due to the listening impression of comfort (60%) more than rain on different materials such as woods, metal, glass, tent, and pavement. Shishiodoshi and Suikinkutsu were also identified with “quiet” sound quality but overall likely impression is not as high as water fountain.

RETRACTED: The Effects of Soundscapes in Relieving Stress in an Urban Park

“…On the one hand it eliminates a certain amount of noise [126], on the other it adds a sense of tranquillity [122]. For example, listening to the stream sound in naturopathy is more likely to help people to meditate, sit and relax [127]. Appropriate inclusion of landscape elements such as fountains, streams and waterfalls in the design of urban park environments may be able to contribute to the stress-relieving effects of urban parks.…”

“…In addition, the cicada sound and wind sound also have positive effects on relieving stress, but to a lesser degree. The stress-relieving effects of urban parks may be furthered by the appropriate inclusion of cicada sound and wind sound, but their effects may be influenced by factors such as volume, location of the sound source and season [127].…”

Effects of Soundscapes on Human Physiology and Psychology in Qianjiangyuan National Park System Pilot Area in China

“…In recent years, water landscapes have played an increasingly important role in natural therapy. Tedja et al reported that listening to the sound of running water helped people to meditate and facilitated the relaxation of the body and mind [50]. This shows that waterscapes (water sound) require attention in the future planning and management of the soundscape of national parks.…”