diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 4a829b3191..5b0d5c65ce 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -3013,8 +3013,19 @@ void Application::init() {
     _entityClipboardRenderer.setTree(_entityClipboard);
 
     // Make sure any new sounds are loaded as soon as know about them.
-    connect(tree.get(), &EntityTree::newCollisionSoundURL, DependencyManager::get<SoundCache>().data(), &SoundCache::getSound);
-    connect(getMyAvatar(), &MyAvatar::newCollisionSoundURL, DependencyManager::get<SoundCache>().data(), &SoundCache::getSound);
+    connect(tree.get(), &EntityTree::newCollisionSoundURL, this, [this](QUrl newURL, EntityItemID id) {
+        EntityTreePointer tree = getEntities()->getTree();
+        if (auto entity = tree->findEntityByEntityItemID(id)) {
+            auto sound = DependencyManager::get<SoundCache>()->getSound(newURL);
+            entity->setCollisionSound(sound);
+        }
+    }, Qt::QueuedConnection);
+    connect(getMyAvatar(), &MyAvatar::newCollisionSoundURL, this, [this](QUrl newURL) {
+        if (auto avatar = getMyAvatar()) {
+            auto sound = DependencyManager::get<SoundCache>()->getSound(newURL);
+            avatar->setCollisionSound(sound);
+        }
+    }, Qt::QueuedConnection);
 }
 
 void Application::updateLOD() const {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
index 402245d0c3..e098aac677 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
@@ -309,9 +309,11 @@ void AvatarManager::handleCollisionEvents(const CollisionEvents& collisionEvents
         // my avatar. (Other user machines will make a similar analysis and inject sound for their collisions.)
         if (collision.idA.isNull() || collision.idB.isNull()) {
             MyAvatar* myAvatar = getMyAvatar();
-            const QString& collisionSoundURL = myAvatar->getCollisionSoundURL();
-            if (!collisionSoundURL.isEmpty()) {
-                const float velocityChange = glm::length(collision.velocityChange);
+            auto collisionSound = myAvatar->getCollisionSound();
+            if (collisionSound) {
+                const auto characterController = myAvatar->getCharacterController();
+                const float avatarVelocityChange = (characterController ? glm::length(characterController->getVelocityChange()) : 0.0f);
+                const float velocityChange = glm::length(collision.velocityChange) + avatarVelocityChange;
                 const float MIN_AVATAR_COLLISION_ACCELERATION = 0.01f;
                 const bool isSound = (collision.type == CONTACT_EVENT_TYPE_START) && (velocityChange > MIN_AVATAR_COLLISION_ACCELERATION);
 
@@ -327,7 +329,7 @@ void AvatarManager::handleCollisionEvents(const CollisionEvents& collisionEvents
                 // but most avatars are roughly the same size, so let's not be so fancy yet.
                 const float AVATAR_STRETCH_FACTOR = 1.0f;
 
-                AudioInjector::playSound(collisionSoundURL, energyFactorOfFull, AVATAR_STRETCH_FACTOR, myAvatar->getPosition());
+                AudioInjector::playSound(collisionSound, energyFactorOfFull, AVATAR_STRETCH_FACTOR, myAvatar->getPosition());
                 myAvatar->collisionWithEntity(collision);
                 return;
             }
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index bad60643ec..f6caedb014 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #include <AccountManager.h>
 #include <AddressManager.h>
 #include <AudioClient.h>
-#include <DependencyManager.h>
 #include <display-plugins/DisplayPlugin.h>
 #include <FSTReader.h>
 #include <GeometryUtil.h>
@@ -32,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <PathUtils.h>
 #include <PerfStat.h>
 #include <SharedUtil.h>
+#include <SoundCache.h>
 #include <TextRenderer3D.h>
 #include <UserActivityLogger.h>
 #include <AnimDebugDraw.h>
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ MyAvatar::MyAvatar(RigPointer rig) :
     _scriptedMotorTimescale(DEFAULT_SCRIPTED_MOTOR_TIMESCALE),
     _scriptedMotorFrame(SCRIPTED_MOTOR_CAMERA_FRAME),
     _motionBehaviors(AVATAR_MOTION_DEFAULTS),
-    _collisionSoundURL(""),
     _characterController(this),
     _lookAtTargetAvatar(),
     _shouldRender(true),
@@ -1232,12 +1231,20 @@ void MyAvatar::clearScriptableSettings() {
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::setCollisionSoundURL(const QString& url) {
-    _collisionSoundURL = url;
-    if (!url.isEmpty() && (url != _collisionSoundURL)) {
-        emit newCollisionSoundURL(QUrl(url));
+    if (url != _collisionSoundURL) {
+        _collisionSoundURL = url;
+
+        emit newCollisionSoundURL(QUrl(_collisionSoundURL));
     }
 }
 
+SharedSoundPointer MyAvatar::getCollisionSound() {
+    if (!_collisionSound) {
+        _collisionSound = DependencyManager::get<SoundCache>()->getSound(_collisionSoundURL);
+    }
+    return _collisionSound;
+}
+
 void MyAvatar::attach(const QString& modelURL, const QString& jointName,
                       const glm::vec3& translation, const glm::quat& rotation,
                       float scale, bool isSoft,
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index fee1a9add3..d25318c9fb 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include <SettingHandle.h>
 #include <Rig.h>
+#include <Sound.h>
 
 #include <controllers/Pose.h>
 
@@ -222,6 +223,9 @@ public:
     const QString& getCollisionSoundURL() { return _collisionSoundURL; }
     void setCollisionSoundURL(const QString& url);
 
+    SharedSoundPointer getCollisionSound();
+    void setCollisionSound(SharedSoundPointer sound) { _collisionSound = sound; }
+
     void clearScriptableSettings();
 
     float getBoomLength() const { return _boomLength; }
@@ -362,6 +366,8 @@ private:
     quint32 _motionBehaviors;
     QString _collisionSoundURL;
 
+    SharedSoundPointer _collisionSound;
+
     MyCharacterController _characterController;
 
     AvatarWeakPointer _lookAtTargetAvatar;
diff --git a/libraries/audio/src/AudioInjector.cpp b/libraries/audio/src/AudioInjector.cpp
index a6515f5f65..878a4c627c 100644
--- a/libraries/audio/src/AudioInjector.cpp
+++ b/libraries/audio/src/AudioInjector.cpp
@@ -365,17 +365,9 @@ void AudioInjector::stopAndDeleteLater() {
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "deleteLater", Qt::QueuedConnection);
 }
 
-AudioInjector* AudioInjector::playSound(const QString& soundUrl, const float volume, const float stretchFactor, const glm::vec3 position) {
-    if (soundUrl.isEmpty()) {
-        return NULL;
-    }
-    auto soundCache = DependencyManager::get<SoundCache>();
-    if (soundCache.isNull()) {
-        return NULL;
-    }
-    SharedSoundPointer sound = soundCache->getSound(QUrl(soundUrl));
-    if (sound.isNull() || !sound->isReady()) {
-        return NULL;
+AudioInjector* AudioInjector::playSound(SharedSoundPointer sound, const float volume, const float stretchFactor, const glm::vec3 position) {
+    if (!sound || !sound->isReady()) {
+        return nullptr;
     }
 
     AudioInjectorOptions options;
@@ -385,7 +377,7 @@ AudioInjector* AudioInjector::playSound(const QString& soundUrl, const float vol
 
     QByteArray samples = sound->getByteArray();
     if (stretchFactor == 1.0f) {
-        return playSoundAndDelete(samples, options, NULL);
+        return playSoundAndDelete(samples, options, nullptr);
     }
 
     const int standardRate = AudioConstants::SAMPLE_RATE;
@@ -403,7 +395,7 @@ AudioInjector* AudioInjector::playSound(const QString& soundUrl, const float vol
                                          nInputFrames);
 
     Q_UNUSED(nOutputFrames);
-    return playSoundAndDelete(resampled, options, NULL);
+    return playSoundAndDelete(resampled, options, nullptr);
 }
 
 AudioInjector* AudioInjector::playSoundAndDelete(const QByteArray& buffer, const AudioInjectorOptions options, AbstractAudioInterface* localInterface) {
diff --git a/libraries/audio/src/AudioInjector.h b/libraries/audio/src/AudioInjector.h
index 2dad2856b9..c90256429d 100644
--- a/libraries/audio/src/AudioInjector.h
+++ b/libraries/audio/src/AudioInjector.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public:
 
     static AudioInjector* playSoundAndDelete(const QByteArray& buffer, const AudioInjectorOptions options, AbstractAudioInterface* localInterface);
     static AudioInjector* playSound(const QByteArray& buffer, const AudioInjectorOptions options, AbstractAudioInterface* localInterface);
-    static AudioInjector* playSound(const QString& soundUrl, const float volume, const float stretchFactor, const glm::vec3 position);
+    static AudioInjector* playSound(SharedSoundPointer sound, const float volume, const float stretchFactor, const glm::vec3 position);
 
 public slots:
     void restart();
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
index 013385a169..814faa8874 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
@@ -820,14 +820,14 @@ void EntityTreeRenderer::playEntityCollisionSound(const QUuid& myNodeID, EntityT
         return;
     }
 
-    QString collisionSoundURL;
+    SharedSoundPointer collisionSound;
     float mass = 1.0; // value doesn't get used, but set it so compiler is quiet
     AACube minAACube;
     bool success = false;
     _tree->withReadLock([&] {
         EntityItemPointer entity = entityTree->findEntityByEntityItemID(id);
         if (entity) {
-            collisionSoundURL = entity->getCollisionSoundURL();
+            collisionSound = entity->getCollisionSound();
             mass = entity->computeMass();
             minAACube = entity->getMinimumAACube(success);
         }
@@ -835,9 +835,10 @@ void EntityTreeRenderer::playEntityCollisionSound(const QUuid& myNodeID, EntityT
     if (!success) {
         return;
     }
-    if (collisionSoundURL.isEmpty()) {
+    if (!collisionSound) {
         return;
     }
+
     const float COLLISION_PENETRATION_TO_VELOCITY = 50; // as a subsitute for RELATIVE entity->getVelocity()
     // The collision.penetration is a pretty good indicator of changed velocity AFTER the initial contact,
     // but that first contact depends on exactly where we hit in the physics step.
@@ -859,11 +860,10 @@ void EntityTreeRenderer::playEntityCollisionSound(const QUuid& myNodeID, EntityT
     const float COLLISION_SOUND_COMPRESSION_RANGE = 1.0f; // This section could be removed when the value is 1, but let's see how it goes.
     const float volume = (energyFactorOfFull * COLLISION_SOUND_COMPRESSION_RANGE) + (1.0f - COLLISION_SOUND_COMPRESSION_RANGE);
 
-
     // Shift the pitch down by ln(1 + (size / COLLISION_SIZE_FOR_STANDARD_PITCH)) / ln(2)
     const float COLLISION_SIZE_FOR_STANDARD_PITCH = 0.2f;
     const float stretchFactor = log(1.0f + (minAACube.getLargestDimension() / COLLISION_SIZE_FOR_STANDARD_PITCH)) / log(2);
-    AudioInjector::playSound(collisionSoundURL, volume, stretchFactor, position);
+    AudioInjector::playSound(collisionSound, volume, stretchFactor, position);
 }
 
 void EntityTreeRenderer::entityCollisionWithEntity(const EntityItemID& idA, const EntityItemID& idB,
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
index bdedbbce77..a36c69b880 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
@@ -852,6 +852,23 @@ void EntityItem::setHref(QString value) {
     _href = value;
 }
 
+void EntityItem::setCollisionSoundURL(const QString& value) {
+    if (_collisionSoundURL != value) {
+        _collisionSoundURL = value;
+
+        if (auto myTree = getTree()) {
+            myTree->notifyNewCollisionSoundURL(_collisionSoundURL, getEntityItemID());
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+SharedSoundPointer EntityItem::getCollisionSound() {
+    if (!_collisionSound) {
+        _collisionSound = DependencyManager::get<SoundCache>()->getSound(_collisionSoundURL);
+    }
+    return _collisionSound;
+}
+
 void EntityItem::simulate(const quint64& now) {
     if (_lastSimulated == 0) {
         _lastSimulated = now;
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
index ecb9800e70..210dbba284 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <PhysicsCollisionGroups.h>
 #include <ShapeInfo.h>
 #include <Transform.h>
+#include <Sound.h>
 #include <SpatiallyNestable.h>
 
 #include "EntityItemID.h"
@@ -250,7 +251,10 @@ public:
     void setScriptTimestamp(const quint64 value) { _scriptTimestamp = value; }
 
     const QString& getCollisionSoundURL() const { return _collisionSoundURL; }
-    void setCollisionSoundURL(const QString& value) { _collisionSoundURL = value; }
+    void setCollisionSoundURL(const QString& value);
+
+    SharedSoundPointer getCollisionSound();
+    void setCollisionSound(SharedSoundPointer sound) { _collisionSound = sound; }
 
     const glm::vec3& getRegistrationPoint() const { return _registrationPoint; } /// registration point as ratio of entity
 
@@ -478,6 +482,7 @@ protected:
     quint64 _loadedScriptTimestamp{ ENTITY_ITEM_DEFAULT_SCRIPT_TIMESTAMP + 1 };
 
     QString _collisionSoundURL;
+    SharedSoundPointer _collisionSound;
     glm::vec3 _registrationPoint;
     float _angularDamping;
     bool _visible;
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
index b4f0c484d5..7b6756f3c1 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ void EntityTree::postAddEntity(EntityItemPointer entity) {
     }
 
     _isDirty = true;
-    maybeNotifyNewCollisionSoundURL("", entity->getCollisionSoundURL());
     emit addingEntity(entity->getEntityItemID());
 
     // find and hook up any entities with this entity as a (previously) missing parent
@@ -223,7 +222,6 @@ bool EntityTree::updateEntityWithElement(EntityItemPointer entity, const EntityI
 
         QString entityScriptBefore = entity->getScript();
         quint64 entityScriptTimestampBefore = entity->getScriptTimestamp();
-        QString collisionSoundURLBefore = entity->getCollisionSoundURL();
         uint32_t preFlags = entity->getDirtyFlags();
 
         AACube newQueryAACube;
@@ -295,7 +293,6 @@ bool EntityTree::updateEntityWithElement(EntityItemPointer entity, const EntityI
         if (entityScriptBefore != entityScriptAfter || reload) {
             emitEntityScriptChanging(entity->getEntityItemID(), reload); // the entity script has changed
         }
-        maybeNotifyNewCollisionSoundURL(collisionSoundURLBefore, entity->getCollisionSoundURL());
      }
 
     // TODO: this final containingElement check should eventually be removed (or wrapped in an #ifdef DEBUG).
@@ -362,10 +359,8 @@ void EntityTree::emitEntityScriptChanging(const EntityItemID& entityItemID, cons
     emit entityScriptChanging(entityItemID, reload);
 }
 
-void EntityTree::maybeNotifyNewCollisionSoundURL(const QString& previousCollisionSoundURL, const QString& nextCollisionSoundURL) {
-    if (!nextCollisionSoundURL.isEmpty() && (nextCollisionSoundURL != previousCollisionSoundURL)) {
-        emit newCollisionSoundURL(QUrl(nextCollisionSoundURL));
-    }
+void EntityTree::notifyNewCollisionSoundURL(const QString& newURL, const EntityItemID& entityID) {
+    emit newCollisionSoundURL(QUrl(newURL), entityID);
 }
 
 void EntityTree::setSimulation(EntitySimulation* simulation) {
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.h
index 54e516d01d..83bc31aa92 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.h
@@ -249,6 +249,8 @@ public:
     void forgetAvatarID(QUuid avatarID) { _avatarIDs -= avatarID; }
     void deleteDescendantsOfAvatar(QUuid avatarID);
 
+    void notifyNewCollisionSoundURL(const QString& newCollisionSoundURL, const EntityItemID& entityID);
+
 public slots:
     void callLoader(EntityItemID entityID);
 
@@ -256,7 +258,7 @@ signals:
     void deletingEntity(const EntityItemID& entityID);
     void addingEntity(const EntityItemID& entityID);
     void entityScriptChanging(const EntityItemID& entityItemID, const bool reload);
-    void newCollisionSoundURL(const QUrl& url);
+    void newCollisionSoundURL(const QUrl& url, const EntityItemID& entityID);
     void clearingEntities();
 
 protected:
@@ -301,7 +303,6 @@ protected:
 
     bool _wantEditLogging = false;
     bool _wantTerseEditLogging = false;
-    void maybeNotifyNewCollisionSoundURL(const QString& oldCollisionSoundURL, const QString& newCollisionSoundURL);
 
 
     // some performance tracking properties - only used in server trees
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTreeElement.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTreeElement.cpp
index 8270dc7e69..a919dc4251 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTreeElement.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTreeElement.cpp
@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ OctreeElementPointer EntityTreeElement::createNewElement(unsigned char* octalCod
     return newChild;
 }
 
-
-
 void EntityTreeElement::init(unsigned char* octalCode) {
     OctreeElement::init(octalCode);
     _octreeMemoryUsage += sizeof(EntityTreeElement);
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
index f685aee748..6ebe05ba86 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
@@ -430,6 +430,14 @@ glm::vec3 CharacterController::getLinearVelocity() const {
     return velocity;
 }
 
+glm::vec3 CharacterController::getVelocityChange() const {
+    glm::vec3 velocity(0.0f);
+    if (_rigidBody) {
+        velocity = bulletToGLM(_rigidBody->getLinearVelocity());
+    }
+    return velocity;
+}
+
 void CharacterController::preSimulation() {
     if (_enabled && _dynamicsWorld) {
         quint64 now = usecTimestampNow();
@@ -437,6 +445,7 @@ void CharacterController::preSimulation() {
         // slam body to where it is supposed to be
         _rigidBody->setWorldTransform(_characterBodyTransform);
         btVector3 velocity = _rigidBody->getLinearVelocity();
+        _preSimulationVelocity = velocity;
 
         btVector3 actualVertVelocity = velocity.dot(_currentUp) * _currentUp;
         btVector3 actualHorizVelocity = velocity - actualVertVelocity;
@@ -531,6 +540,9 @@ void CharacterController::preSimulation() {
 
 void CharacterController::postSimulation() {
     // postSimulation() exists for symmetry and just in case we need to do something here later
+
+    btVector3 velocity = _rigidBody->getLinearVelocity();
+    _velocityChange = velocity - _preSimulationVelocity;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
index d810e904a7..a54ab97a14 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ public:
     glm::vec3 getFollowVelocity() const;
 
     glm::vec3 getLinearVelocity() const;
+    glm::vec3 getVelocityChange() const;
 
     float getCapsuleRadius() const { return _radius; }
     float getCapsuleHalfHeight() const { return _halfHeight; }
@@ -112,6 +113,8 @@ protected:
     btVector3 _currentUp;
     btVector3 _targetVelocity;
     btVector3 _parentVelocity;
+    btVector3 _preSimulationVelocity;
+    btVector3 _velocityChange;
     btTransform _followDesiredBodyTransform;
     btScalar _followTimeRemaining;
     btTransform _characterBodyTransform;
diff --git a/tests/entities/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/entities/CMakeLists.txt
index b12771b368..a6ce4cf956 100644
--- a/tests/entities/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/entities/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ setup_hifi_project(Network Script)
 set_target_properties(${TARGET_NAME} PROPERTIES FOLDER "Tests/manual-tests/")
 
 # link in the shared libraries
-link_hifi_libraries(entities avatars shared octree gpu model fbx networking animation)
+link_hifi_libraries(entities avatars shared octree gpu model fbx networking animation audio)
 
 package_libraries_for_deployment()