As of the June 26, 2026 appointments, Floyd Edward Toole has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada
His official citation reads:
“Acoustics researcher Floyd Toole transformed global understanding of sound reproduction through groundbreaking work at Canada’s National Research Council. His innovative loudspeaker measurements and NRC facilities spurred Canadian loudspeaker manufacturing, and he advanced room acoustics and loudspeaker standards at Harman International. His definitive textbook continues to guide the field worldwide.”
This is a fitting recognition of his enormous influence on the science of sound reproduction. Dr. Toole’s research fundamentally changed how loudspeakers are designed and evaluated by demonstrating that objective measurements, when properly performed, correlate strongly with listener preferences. His work at Canada’s National Research Council Canada and later at Harman International has had a lasting impact on the global audio industry.
His book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms, is widely regarded as one of the definitive works on the subject.
