A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SOUND REPRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR LISTENING TESTS USED IN THE SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF SOUND INSULATION

Akustika ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 32-39
Author(s):  
Dominik Kisić ◽  
Marko Horvat ◽  
Kristian Jambrošić ◽  
Vedran Planinec
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Sound Insulation ◽  
Listening Test ◽  
Sound Reproduction ◽  
Listening Tests ◽  
Acoustic Comfort

This article does not present an in-depth overview but is meant to serve as an introduction to the newcomers to this field of acoustics. A brief explanation is given for different sound reproduction formats (Ambisonics and binaural), together with some of the standards, and listening test tools used in the design of listening tests. Primarily the listening tests in the field of subjective evaluation of sound insulation and acoustic comfort have been discussed.

Subjective Evaluation of Three Headphone-Based Virtual Sound Source Positioning Methods Including Differential Head-Related Transfer Function

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-447
Author(s):  
Dominik Storek ◽  
Frantisek Rund ◽  
Petr Marsalek
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Sound Source ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Sound Localisation ◽  
Signal Features ◽  
Listening Tests ◽  
Positioning Method ◽  
Head Related Transfer Function ◽  
Positioning Algorithm ◽  
Source Positioning

Abstract This paper analyses the performance of Differential Head-Related Transfer Function (DHRTF), an alternative transfer function for headphone-based virtual sound source positioning within a horizontal plane. This experimental one-channel function is used to reduce processing and avoid timbre affection while preserving signal features important for sound localisation. The use of positioning algorithm employing the DHRTF is compared to two other common positioning methods: amplitude panning and HRTF processing. Results of theoretical comparison and quality assessment of the methods by subjective listening tests are presented. The tests focus on distinctive aspects of the positioning methods: spatial impression, timbre affection, and loudness fluctuations. The results show that the DHRTF positioning method is applicable with very promising performance; it avoids perceptible channel coloration that occurs within the HRTF method, and it delivers spatial impression more successfully than the simple amplitude panning method.

scholarly journals Dichotic words listening test: technical aspects and results in normal right-handed individuals

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Regina Caner-Cukiert ◽  
Arthur Cukiert
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Dominance ◽  
Listening Test ◽  
Left Handed ◽  
Listening Tests ◽  
Msec Interval ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Hemisphere Dominance ◽  
Four Blocks ◽  
Right Ear Advantage ◽  
The Right

Dichotic listening tests have been being used in an increasing frequency to determine in a non-invasive way the cerebral dominance in right- and left-handed patients. This is especially relevant when surgery in eloquent brain areas is being contemplated. A Portuguese version of the dichotic words listening test was developed based mainly on Wexler's protocol. It consisted of 15 pairs of words with a stimulus dominance lower than 50%. They were recorded using natural voice and time and intensity synchronization by means of a specialized software. Each pair of words was presented twice in different channels within each block. The items were randomized and presented with a 300 msec interval between each trial. Four blocks of 30 pairs of words each were created, totalizing 120 trials. In the scoring process, the words heard over the right and left ears were wrote down. The number of times each word was heard over each ear was computed and their values subtracted yielding a partial score for each specific word pair. This process was repeated for all stimuli pair and a final score for right and left predominance was then reached. Thirty-two right handed normal individuals underwent the test 93.8% showed a right ear advantage. These results are very similar to the actual left hemisphere dominance rate in a right-handed population.

scholarly journals Comparasion of prediction and measurement methods for sound insulation of lightweight partitions

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Momir Prascevic ◽  
Dragan Cvetkovic ◽  
Darko Mihajlov
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Loss ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Measurement Methods ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Sound Insulation ◽  
Acoustic Absorption ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Overall Design ◽  
Acoustic Comfort

It is important to know the sound insulation of partitions in order to be able to compare different constructions, calculate acoustic comfort in apartments or noise levels from outdoor sources such as road traffic, and find engineer optimum solutions to noise problems. The use of lightweight partitions as party walls between dwellings has become common because sound insulation requirements can be achieved with low overall surface weights. However, they need greater skill to design and construct, because the overall design is much more complex. It is also more difficult to predict and measure of sound transmission loss of lightweight partitions. There are various methods for predicting and measuring sound insulation of partitions and some of them will be described in this paper. Also, this paper presents a comparison of experimental results of the sound insulation of lightweight partitions with results obtained using different theoretical models for single homogenous panels and double panels with and without acoustic absorption in the cavity between the panels.

Subjective evaluation of the combining effect between the virtual bass and head related transfer functions

2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (5) ◽  
pp. 1488-1496
Author(s):  
Yunqi Chen ◽  
Chuang Shi ◽  
Hao Mu
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Sound Source ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Localization Accuracy ◽  
Frequency Sound ◽  
Listening Tests ◽  
Listening Experience ◽  
Missing Fundamental

Earphones are commonly equipped with miniature loudspeaker units, which cannot transmit enough power of low-frequency sound. Meanwhile, there is often only one loudspeaker unit employed on each side of the earphone, whereby the multi-channel spatial audio processing cannot be applied. Therefore, the combined usage of the virtual bass (VB) and head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) is necessary for an immersive listening experience with earphones. However, the combining effect of the VB and HRTFs has not been comprehensively reported. The VB is developed based on the missing fundamental effect, providing that the presence of harmonics can be perceived as their fundamental frequency, even if the fundamental frequency is not presented. HRTFs describe the transmission process of a sound propagating from the sound source to human ears. Monaural audio processed by a pair of HRTFs can be perceived by the listener as a sound source located in the direction associated with the HRTFs. This paper carries out subjective listening tests and their results reveal that the harmonics required by the VB should be generated in the same direction as the high-frequency sound. The bass quality is rarely distorted by the presence of HRTFs, but the localization accuracy is occasionally degraded by the VB.

Methodology for the subjective evaluation of airborne sound insulation through 2-AC and Thurstonian models

2020 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 107011
Author(s):  
Daniel de la Prida ◽  
Antonio Pedrero ◽  
María Ángeles Navacerrada ◽  
Alexander Díaz-Chyla
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Sound Insulation ◽  
Airborne Sound ◽  
Thurstonian Models

Assessing the ease of conversation in multi-group conversation spaces: Effect of background music volume on acoustic comfort in a café

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoya Maruyama ◽  
Yasuhiro Hiraguri ◽  
Keiji Kawai ◽  
Mari Ueda
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Background Music ◽  
High Background ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Noise Measurements ◽  
Representative Points ◽  
Number Of Customers

A “multi-group conversation space” refers to a space, such as restaurant or café, where more than one group of people share a space and make conversation within their respective group. From a field experiment in an actual café, we investigated the acoustic comfort in a multi-group conversation space considering speech intelligibility and speech privacy as major factors. In the experiment, noise measurements and a questionnaire survey taken by customers were conducted for 4 days. We were able to change the volume of the background music during operating hours, setting the level on each of the 4 days to low, mid, high, and none. Indoor noise levels were measured at six representative points with six sound level meters hung from the ceiling. The questionnaire consisted of eight items for subjective evaluation, including ease of conversation, comfort, and room atmosphere. After having their meal or drinks, the customers were asked to fill in the questionnaire at their table. The occupancy of neighboring tables and the number of customers in the café were also recorded. Results show that (1) overall, the respondents evaluated the café space positively; (2) high background music volume levels together with occupied neighboring tables tended to elicit negative evaluations; and (3) customer clustering analysis identified certain influences of distance from loudspeakers, neighboring table occupancy, and personal characteristics.

Objective and subjective evaluation of the acoustic comfort in classrooms

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Henrique Trombetta Zannin ◽  
Carolina Reich Marcon
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Objective And Subjective Evaluation

Vibro-Acoustic Comfort Assessment Methodology of Residential Buildings in Urban Environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 1041 ◽  
pp. 428-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Flimel
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Objective Evaluation ◽  
Sound Insulation ◽  
Building Structures ◽  
Assessment Methodology ◽  
Noise Sources ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
And Performance

Noise in residential buildings should be assessed not only in terms of impact on health, safety and performance of inhabitants, but also for the “value” of the building (apartment) in a certain environment. Building energetic certification implementation is one of the first compulsory legislative evaluation criteria. This paper wants to draw the attention to the need for vibro-accoustic building (apartment) certification. Presented tabular evaluation is an objective evaluation. The reason for that are the tendencies related to noise in environment: increased number and levels of noise sources in buildings’ exterior and interior, increasing demands for sound insulation of building structures and growing number of “noise” complaints.

scholarly journals TEST TAKERS’ ATTITUDES TO THE TEST CONTENT OF THE TWO LISTENING TESTS: IELTS AND TOEFL iBT

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Nhan Hoa
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Test Preparation ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Difficulty Level ◽  
Listening Test ◽  
New Words ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Listening Tests ◽  
Toefl Ibt ◽  
Technical Terms

Ten aspects of test content in the two listening tests: IELTS and TOEFL iBT are investigated from the perspective of test-takers’ judgment. Main findings reveal that there are both similarities and differences in test takers’ attitudes to the two tests although the similarities outweigh the differences. The most obvious difference is that test takers have a more positive attitude to the IELTS listening test than to the TOEFL iBT listening test and test preparation has a strong effect to test takers’ attitude to the test. In addition, test takers’ positive attitudes to the test are strongly associated with better test performance. Substantial differences of test takers’ attitude to the two listening tests can be seen in their judgment of difficulty level, new words/technical terms and familiarity of topics. Test takers found the IELTS listening test less difficult, having fewer new words and technical terms, and containing more familiar topics than the TOEFL iBT listening test. They also find the test method of the IELTS is less challenging than that of the TOEFL iBT listening test although their choice of the test to take heavily depends on which test they are being prepared for.

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