Neofytos Kaplanis

Perceptual aspects of reproduced sound in car cabin acoustics

An experiment was conducted to determine the perceptual effects of car cabin acoustics on the reproduced sound field. In-car measurements were conducted whilst the cabins interior was physically modified. The captured sound fields were recreated in the laboratory using a three-dimensional loudspeaker array. A panel of expert assessors followed a rapid sensory analysis protocol, the flash profile, to perceptually characterize and evaluate 12 acoustical conditions of the car cabin using individually elicited attributes. A multivariate analysis revealed the panels consensus and the identified perceptual constructs. Six perceptual constructs characterize the differences between the acoustical conditions of the cabin, related to bass, ambience, transparency, width and envelopment, brightness, and image focus. The current results indicate the importance of several acoustical properties of a cars interior on the perceived sound qualities. Moreover, they signify the capacity of the applied methodology in assessing spectral and spatial properties of automotive environments in laboratory settings using a time-efficient and flexible protocol.

A novel method for perceptual assessment of small room acoustics using rapid sensory analysis

Identifying and perceptually characterizing the physical properties of rooms is a fundamental step in understanding the acoustical qualities of a space. Over the last century, numerous studies have investigated the perceptual qualities in performance spaces, such as opera houses and concert halls. In smaller spaces, such as domestic environments, the research focus has been primarily steered toward sound reproduction within a room, rather than the transmission medium, the room. In this study, a new methodology is used to perceptually assess and characterize a range of acoustical properties within small rooms and car cabins. In-situ measurements were performed to obtain a range of possible acoustical settings, by varying physically the spaces under investigation. The measured responses were spatially analyzed and synthesized to reproduce the observed fields in the laboratory. Expert listeners were presented with auralized sound over a loudspeaker array and followed a rapid sensory analysis protocol. The el...