Interaction between loudspeakers and room acoustics influences loudspeaker preferences in multichannel audio reproduction
Sean E. Olive · 2007
This dissertation examined the influence of room acoustic variations on listener loudspeaker preferences in multichannel audio reproduction, and the extent to which listeners adapt to the room acoustics. Listener preferences among 4 different 5-channel loudspeaker systems were observed in 4 different virtual listening rooms via a binaural room scanning (BRS) measurement and playback system. To study room acoustic adaptation, 2 groups of listeners evaluated identical stimuli according to 2 different trial blocking schemes, termed either the successive or the intermixed treatment. In the successive treatment condition, the loudspeakers were evaluated under a given room acoustic condition before moving to the next block of trials, under a different room acoustic condition. In the intermixed treatment condition, the loudspeakers were evaluated under a different room acoustic condition on each trial within a given block of trials. Although loudspeaker preferences did not differ between these two different trial-blocking schemes, there was a significant influence of room acoustics on loudspeaker preferences. The room acoustic variation to which listeners were exposed also significantly influenced the observed patterns of loudspeaker preferences. These results can be summarized simply as follows: The most reflective listening room produced the lowest overall preference ratings, and also enabled listeners to report the largest differences in loudspeaker preference. It was also found that experienced listeners were more discerning of loudspeaker effects, whereas less experienced listeners were more influenced by room effects. The results indicate that both listening experience and room acoustics significantly influence how listeners formulate loudspeaker preferences.