# What the precedence effect tells us about room acoustics **Opening (not a real abstract):** What the precedence effect tells us about room acoustics RACHEL K. CLIFTON, RICHARD L. FREYMAN, and JENNIFER MEO Sound produced in a room is typically followed by numerous reflectedsounds from nearby surfaces; yet we perceive a single sound source. This perceptual phenomenon, known as the precedence effect, has long been assumed to involve echo suppression, but the nature of this suppression remains unclear. In two experiments, we investigated whether information about the lagging sound’s location was perceived. Our hypothesis was that such information is critical because reflected sound can function to inform the listener about objects and structures in the room. Listeners reported hearing more echoes under a stimulus situation that simulated sudden, unexpected changes in the location of the lagging