Impact of Aberrant Acoustic Properties on the Perception of Sound Quality in Electrolarynx Speech

A large percentage of patients who have undergone laryngectomy to treat advanced laryngeal cancer rely on an electrolarynx (EL) to communicate verbally. Although serviceable, EL speech is plagued by shortcomings in both sound quality and intelligibility. This study sought to better quantify the relative contributions of previously identified acoustic abnormalities to the perception of degraded quality in EL speech. Ten normal listeners evaluated the sound quality of EL speech tokens that had been acoustically enhanced by (a) increased low-frequency energy, (b) EL-noise reduction, and (c) fundamental frequency variation to mimic normal pitch intonation in relation to nonenhanced EL speech, normal speech, and normal monotonous speech (fundamental frequency variation removed). In comparing all possible combinations of token pairs, listeners were asked to identify which one of each pair sounded most like normal natural speech, and then to rate on a visual analog scale how different the chosen token was from normal speech. The results indicate that although EL speech can be most improved by removing the EL noise and providing proper pitch information, the resulting quality is still well below that of normal natural speech or even that of monotonous natural speech. This suggests that, in addition to the widely acknowledged acoustic abnormalities examined in this investigation, there are other attributes that contribute significantly to the unnatural quality of EL speech. Such additional factors need to be clearly identified and remedied before EL speech can be made to more closely approximate the sound quality of normal natural speech.

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Design and simulation of acoustics for the home theatre

INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings ◽

10.3397/in-2021-2039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 263 (4) ◽

pp. 2052-2057

Author(s):

Liying Zhu ◽

Junjuan Zhao ◽

Xianhui Li ◽

Bin Zhang ◽

Yueyue Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Normal Modes ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Sound Quality ◽

Reverberation Time ◽

Acoustic Design ◽

Room Size ◽

Sound Image ◽

Acoustic Quality ◽

Natural Resonance Frequency

As a typical acoustics room, the sound quality of home theatre is an important standard to evaluate its design. Qualified acoustics design is the guarantee of good sound quality. The volume of home theatre is generally small, so the room size is similar to the low-frequency wavelength. Then the resonance will occur when the excitation of the sound source frequency acts on the natural resonance frequency of the room. At the same time, the secondary reflection of the room also interferes the direct sound emitted by the speaker, thus destroying the sound image. In order to solve the above problems, this paper took a home theatre as an example, analyzed the normal modes of the room by the theory of wave acoustics, and then made an acoustics design and simulation. The simulation results showed that the reverberation time was up to the relevant standards and the room acoustic quality environment was improved obviously after the acoustic design.

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Sound quality evaluation for luxury refrigerator door closing sound

INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings ◽

10.3397/in-2021-1968 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 263 (5) ◽

pp. 1845-1854

Author(s):

Kanta Imamori ◽

Atsuya Yoshiga ◽

Junji Yoshida

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Quality Evaluation ◽

Evaluation Method ◽

Evaluation Model ◽

Subjective Evaluation ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Sound Quality ◽

Subjective Test ◽

Two Factors

In this study, we carried out subjective evaluation tests employing 19 refrigerator door closing sounds to quantify the luxury feeling. By applying factor analysis to the subjective evaluation results, the sound quality of the refrigerator door closing sound was found to be expressed by the following two factors: overall loudness and the pitch of the sound. Subsequently, luxury feeling evaluation model was obtained through multiple regression analysis. As the result, the luxury feeling of the door closing sound was evaluated to be high when the sound was softer and had lower pitch. Then, we prepared several luxury door closing sounds according to the obtained evaluation model through a filter processing and conducted subjective evaluation tests again to verify the evaluation model. The result shows that the amplitude increased sound at low frequency band under 100 Hz, which was calculated to be high luxury by the evaluation model, was actually evaluated as the best among the presented sounds through the subjective test. And the luxury sound quality evaluation method was confirmed to be useful to quantify and estimate the sound quality of the refrigerator door closing sound.

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THE IMPACT OF ACOUSTIC OF SELECTED SPACES ON PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS

Akustika ◽

10.36336/akustika20203772 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 37-85

Author(s):

Vojtěch Ondrejka ◽

Tomáš Gergeĺ ◽

Anna Danihelová ◽

Martin Čulík ◽

Dagmara Bednárová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sound Quality ◽

Musical Instrument ◽

Musical Instruments ◽

Acoustic Properties ◽

Reverberation Time ◽

Percussion Instruments ◽

Percussion Instrument ◽

The Impact ◽

Physical Quantities

The results of the investigation of the room acoustic properties influence on the perception of the sound of percussion musical instruments are presented in the paper. At first, the acoustic properties of two rooms were determined without musical instrument. Subsequently, the acoustic properties of the rooms were determined during the presentation of cajon music. On the base of reverberation time (EDT, T30), Clarity C80, Definition D50 and bass index BI) we can conclude that the room of the Hron cinema is more suitable for musical presentation, but it cannot be considered as ideal one. The Royal Hall of Zvolen Castle has a smaller influence on the sound of a percussion instrument. The influence of room acoustic properties on the resulting sound of the instrument was evaluated only on the base of results obtained with using the objective methods by the physical quantities measurement. Finally, the design of these rooms modification is presented to achieve a better sound quality of percussion instruments.

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Thresholds of Discomfort for Complex Stimuli

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/1092-4388(2002/082) ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 45 (5) ◽

pp. 1016-1026 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Rebecca L. Warner ◽

Ruth A. Bentler

Keyword(s):

Low Frequency ◽

Sound Quality ◽

Acoustic Properties ◽

Center Frequency ◽

Quality Factors ◽

Environmental Sounds ◽

Hearing Sensitivity ◽

Quality Ratings ◽

Complex Stimuli ◽

Loudness Level

The purpose of this study was to explain differences in threshold of discomfort (TD) across complex stimuli using acoustic and sound-quality variables as predictors. Two 4-tone complexes and 10 environmental sounds were used as stimuli. The environmental sounds consisted of a baby crying, hairdryer blowing, glass breaking, jet engine propelling, person laughing, motorcycle accelerating, orchestra tuning, telephone ringing, siren blowing, and toilet flushing. One-third octave band (1/3 OB) spectra were obtained for the 12 stimuli, with overall rms amplitude held constant across the stimuli. Nine acoustic quantities describing the high- and low-frequency content, peakiness, and bandwidth of each 1/3 OB spectrum were defined. Twenty adult subjects, 6 men and 14 women, with normal hearing sensitivity participated in the study. TDs were obtained from each subject for all of the stimuli. In addition, subjects rated each of the stimuli for annoyance, harshness, loudness, noisiness, and tinniness on a 10-point scale. These ratings were completed at a level 10 dB below each subject's TD for that stimulus. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the amount of variance in TDs accounted for by subject differences, defined acoustic properties, and sound-quality ratings. Results indicated that, after controlling for intersubject differences, acoustic and sound-quality factors significantly influenced TD ratings. Increases in high-frequency cutoff and low-frequency cutoff, as well as higher ratings of loudness and annoyance, were associated with higher TDs. Associated with lower TDs were an increase in the frequency of the primary spectral peak, an increase in the number of spectral peaks, an increase in the center frequency, an increase in the area under the frequency response curve 30 dB down from the peak amplitude, an increase in the calculated loudness level re ANSI S3.4-1980, and higher ratings of tinniness.

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Sound quality of low-frequency and car engine noises after active noise control

Journal of Sound and Vibration ◽

10.1016/s0022-460x(02)01462-1 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 265 (3) ◽

pp. 663-679 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

A Gonzalez ◽

M Ferrer ◽

M de Diego ◽

G Piñero ◽

J.J Garcia-Bonito

Keyword(s):

Noise Control ◽

Active Noise Control ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Sound Quality ◽

Active Noise

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The Effect of Low Frequency Vibration on Sound Quality of the Automobile Audio System-Proposal of a New Automobile Audio System

10.4271/850165 ◽

1985 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yasushi Tamura ◽

Masaharu Hiraga ◽

Tsuyoshi Usagawa ◽

Masanao Ebata

Keyword(s):

Low Frequency ◽

Sound Quality ◽

Low Frequency Vibration ◽

Audio System

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Stimulus and Task Factors as Determinants of Ear Advantages

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology ◽

10.1080/14640747108400237 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 168-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 136

Author(s):

Mark P. Haggard ◽

Alan M. Parkinson

Keyword(s):

Fundamental Frequency ◽

Natural Speech ◽

Frequency Variation ◽

Stop Consonants ◽

Emotional Tone ◽

Reverse Pattern ◽

Ear Advantage ◽

Right Ear Advantage ◽

And Task

Two dichotic experiments are reported which dissociate stimulus and task factors in perceptual lateralization. With only trajectories of fundamental frequency as a distinguishing cue, perception of the voicing of stop consonants gives a right ear advantage. Identification of the emotional tone of a sentence of natural speech gives a left ear advantage. If such parameters as fundamental frequency variation or overall naturalness of the speech material determined the direction of an ear advantage, the reverse pattern of results would have been obtained. Hence the task appears more important than the nature of the stimulus.

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Dynamics of the processes in metal machining

Nonlinear Analysis Modelling and Control ◽

10.15388/na.1998.2.0.15295 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 115-122

Author(s):

Donatas Švitra ◽

Jolanta Janutėnienė

Keyword(s):

High Frequency ◽

Machine Tools ◽

Metal Cutting ◽

Cutting Tool ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Metal Cutting Machine ◽

Cutting Machine ◽

Metal Machining

In the practice of processing of metals by cutting it is necessary to overcome the vibration of the cutting tool, the processed detail and units of the machine tool. These vibrations in many cases are an obstacle to increase the productivity and quality of treatment of details on metal-cutting machine tools. Vibration at cutting of metals is a very diverse phenomenon due to both it’s nature and the form of oscillatory motion. The most general classification of vibrations at cutting is a division them into forced vibration and autovibrations. The most difficult to remove and poorly investigated are the autovibrations, i.e. vibrations arising at the absence of external periodic forces. The autovibrations, stipulated by the process of cutting on metalcutting machine are of two types: the low-frequency autovibrations and high-frequency autovibrations. When the low-frequency autovibration there appear, the cutting process ought to be terminated and the cause of the vibrations eliminated. Otherwise, there is a danger of a break of both machine and tool. In the case of high-frequency vibration the machine operates apparently quiently, but the processed surface feature small-sized roughness. The frequency of autovibrations can reach 5000 Hz and more.

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