Atmospheric Conditions and Sound

Not having studied physics, I found myself wondering if barometric pressure has any direct effect on sound, for example, is 1 bar required to accurately test the sensitivity of loudspeakers?

Ta!

 

In theory, yes. At zero bar no one can hear you scream.

 

Ah, yes, of course! Not that the small differences in atmospheric conditions 'ere on earth will make that much difference. Does tone change with air pressure? or is it just volume?

 

Tone is (mixes of) frequency, and that does not change with air pressure. Neither, interestingly, does the speed of sound (varies less than 2% for span of zero to 100% relative humidity around room temp IIRC).

Sound pressure level (volume) and barometric pressure aren't realy linked at all - the first is simply a minute local variation in the latter. Then again you can't really hear 'DC' - barometric pressure.

Extreme variations might cause small change in performance for some speakers though: for example back when Stereophile was based in Santa Fe (very dry, >8000ft above sea level, so lower baromteric pressure) they found that ESLs would arc a bit more readily than expected IIRC...

 

No Diference On Sound Here, Infact Sounds Quite Nice,
Nando.

 

Yup, only the temperature affects it "significantly". I found this link to calculate approximate speed of sound, just in case you were curious or had mislaid the formula.

For the original question, I'd say the differences aren't worth spending time on .