Devices, methods and computer program products for controlling loudness

An electronic device comprising:

• an audio source;
• a loudspeaker;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• receive an audio signal from the audio source;
• estimate a sound pressure level of the audio signal based on one or more attributes or settings of the electronic device and/or the audio signal;
• generate values of an adaptive loudness control curve along a range of frequencies, wherein the adaptive loudness control curve is generated based on a difference between values of an equal loudness curve at the estimated sound pressure level along the range of frequencies and values of an equal loudness curve at a reference sound pressure level along the range of frequencies, wherein the reference sound pressure level corresponds to a maximum volume level for the device;
• and
• adaptively filter the audio signal using values of the generated adaptive loudness control curve;
• wherein the loudspeaker is configured to output the filtered audio signal as an audio output having substantially the same loudness along the range of frequencies.

A computer program product for controlling frequency response for audio output by an electronic device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to:

• estimate a sound pressure level associated with an audio signal received at the electronic device based on one or more attributes or settings of the electronic device and/or the audio signal;
• generate values of an adaptive loudness control curve along a range of frequencies, wherein the adaptive loudness control curve is generated based on a difference between values of an equal loudness curve at the estimated sound pressure level along the range of frequencies and values of an equal loudness curve at a reference sound pressure level along the range of frequencies, wherein the device has a substantially flat frequency response at the reference sound pressure level;
• filter the audio signal using values of the adaptive loudness control curve;
• and
• control output of the filtered audio signal as an audio output having substantially the same loudness along the range of frequencies.