Listeners recognizing environmental sounds must contend with variations in level due to the source level and the environment. Nonetheless, variations in level disrupt short-term sound recognition [Susini, Houix, Seropian, and Lemaitre (2019). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 146(2), EL172-EL176] suggesting that loudness is encoded. We asked whether the experimental custom of setting sounds to equal levels disrupts long-term recognition, especially if it creates a mismatch with ecological loudness. Environmental sounds were played at equalized or ecological levels. Although recognition improved with increased loudness and familiarity, this relationship was unaffected by equalization or real-life experience with the source. However, sound pleasantness was altered by deviations from the ecological level.
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