Automotive Audio Measurement
Any car audio, any measurement
SoundCheck offers simple, fast and accurate automotive audio measurement, from individual speaker components to complete in-vehicle infotainment and telematics systems. With interfaces to connect via Bluetooth, Lightning, USB and with individual MEMs devices, as well as analog connections, SoundCheck easily handles the complexity and demands of testing in today’s vehicles.
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Automotive measurements include
- Speaker/system response
- Speaker/panel buzz, squeak and rattle
- Bluetooth audio performance
- Head unit and amplifier response & THD+N
- Microphone/microphone array response.
- Active noise cancellation effectiveness
- Spatial reproduction accuracy
SoundCheck for Automotive Audio Measurement
SoundCheck’s modular combination of hardware and software for automotive audio measurements is cost-effective, flexible and expandable.
At the heart of the system is the SoundCheck software. Powerful, fast and accurate, its scalable design allows it to perform in the field and simulation laboratory as well as the end of the production line. Complete flexibility in stimulus choice enables any test signal (even music) to be used as stimuli. Virtual instruments offer the functionality of stand-alone hardware on your laptop. Advanced algorithms and powerful post processing options allow a wide choice of analyses and mathematical operations. For example, using a common 6 measurement microphone array, it is possible to measure sound power, time delays, spatial envelopment and both tonal and stereo balance. Alternatively, the response of a telematics microphone array to a person in the driver’s seat both with and without background noise can be
evaluated. Documentation options range from comprehensive Microsoft Word or Excel reports to simple pass/fail outputs or automatic database writing.
Repeatable, automated tests are quickly and easily created, modified and saved using the simple point-and-click interface. Complex sequences can be developed to meet specific automotive test requirements, for example performance of active road noise cancellation, microphone directivity and spatial reproduction.
In addition to interfacing with the audio measurement hardware (audio interface, HATS, microphone, coupler etc.) the software can also control the vehicles head unit to adjust L/R and fader balance.
SoundCheck also fully integrates with the Mentor A2B interface for testing automotive audio connected via the Analog Devices A2B digital bus. The Mentor Analyzer, which handles the transmission of signal in to and out of the bus, is viewed as an ASIO interface by SoundCheck, enabling SoundCheck to read/write to the device and therefore analyze any transducer connected to the A2B bus.
Watch a video demonstration of an automotive audio test using the Mentor A2B interface:
Automotive test result in SoundCheck showing frequency response and distortion (based on sine wave, music and pink noise)
Listen’s automotive audio measurement hardware includes:
AudioConnect 2™: A USB-powered high-precision compact audio interface with built in headphone amplifier and power supply for 2 microphones. This is a very cost-effective approach for basic automotive testing.
AmpConnect 621: A high-precision multi-channel audio interface with 6 input channels to support a 6-mic array and 2 output channels. It offers sample rates up to 192kHz and includes an amplifier output, along with microphone power, full TEDS support, impedance measurement and digital I/O in a single USB-connected unit.
SoundConnect 2™: A 2-channel microphone power supply (SCM, IEPE, 200V polarization) ideal for vibration measurements or applications where polarization is required.
BTC and BQC Bluetooth Interfaces: Designed for R&D and production respectively, these interface any Bluetooth device to SoundCheck, offering full control over all Bluetooth protocol settings and explicit control over the CODEC choice and transmitter power. The BQC is USB powered for easy on-road testing.
Also available : test microphones, MEMS interfaces, amplifiers, speakers, current monitors, 3rd party hardware including Head and Torso Simulators (HATS), and more.
Automotive Audio Measurement in R&D and Production
Photo courtesy of Brüel and Kjær
R&D Automotive Testing
In the R&D lab, SoundCheck is used for voicing the audio system to the car. This might include speaker positioning and equalization of the system for correct tonal and spatial balance including L/R and front/back balancing. It is also used for microphone positioning and directivity measurements, and noise cancellation performance with simulated and actual road noise.
End-of-line Automotive Testing
At the end of the production line, SoundCheck offers a final audio QC check on the car. Initially a single measurement of frequency response and Rub & Buzz can be used to ensure that the audio profile measured in the car meets specifications. If there are discrepancies, each speaker can then be measured independently (including additional measurements such as polarity) to help identify the causes.
The microphone(s) can also be tested to verify directional response by performing simple directivity measurements using the car’s speakers.
Photo courtesy of Brüel and KjærDownload automotive flyer
