Advanced Methods and Tools for Sound Quality Evaluation

摘要

Sound quality evaluation has become a very important task for product design. Customers expectrnproduct sounds without disturbing noises, a challenge because spectral and temporal noisernpatterns (such as modulated signals causing a roughness sensation) must be considered besidesrnfrequency-weighted level like dB(A) or loudness. Some years ago, a “Hearing Model” wasrndeveloped explaining and describing many psychoacoustic effects and allowing for roughnessrncalculation in accordance with subjective listening tests. The “Relative Approach” analysis as arnpattern-oriented algorithm based on the Hearing Model emphasizes all relevant signalrncomponents concerning human auditory perception: tonal and transient signals. The HighresolutionrnSpectral Analysis (HSA) provides a very small time-bandwidth product comparable orrneven superior to the resolution capabilities of human hearing. HSA is an excellent tool forrntracking transient tonal components.