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Description
Impact sound is reported as one of the most disturbing noise sources in lightweight buildings, yet its perceptual mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Existing evidence indicates that annoyance depends strongly on the type of impact source, while correlations with single-number ratings are often weak. In particular, low-frequency components – typically underrepresented in standardized metrics – appear to play a critical role, suggesting the need for spectral adaptation approaches. However, within this frequency range, it remains unclear to what extent perception is mediated purely by the auditory system or by whole-body vibrations. This study examines the role of structural vibrations in the perception of impact sound. Independent measurements of airborne sound and structure-borne vibrations were taken in buildings for characteristic impact sources and two floor assemblies with different insulation performance. A controlled blind listening experiment was conducted in which participants evaluated the perceived intensity of vibrations without knowing whether the vibrations were physically reproduced. Statistical analysis of the responses reveals that, for sufficiently strong excitations and in cases of poor impact sound insulation, the structural transmission path significantly contributes to perceived vibration intensity. These findings show that impact sound perception cannot be fully explained by airborne sound alone and are important for better understanding impact sound annoyance.