News & Events
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Practical Automotive Audio Measurements-Cupertino
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, Cupertino, CA
Date & Time: Thursday, November 19 • 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Join us for an engaging and informative day of practical automotive audio measurements and training.
In the morning Steve Temme will share the work of the AES Technical Committee on Automotive Audio (TC-AA) and their development of a white paper to standardize measurements of frequency response, Max. SPL and impulsive distortion. He will then delve deeper into some of the other audio characterization metrics that help develop a more complete picture of in-car audio quality. These include seat-to-seat spectral uniformity, Max SPL versus distortion and alternative methods for impulsive distortion measurements.
After a short break Dr. Sean Olive will present a framework that defines the objective and subjective measurements needed to build accurate and reliable generalized predictive models of automotive sound quality
After a networking lunch, we’ll head outside for a hands-on session making some real in-car measurements and offer hands-on guidance in making these measurements.
There is no charge for this event, but registration is required and spaces are limited.
ISEAT Conference – Shenzhen, China – September 12-13, 2026
Visit us at ISEAT China’s leading electroacoustics event, where we’re showcasing our latest products with our local distributor S&V Samford.
We’ll be demonstrating SoundCheck 24 – our new release – as well as new products for automotive and headphone testing.
SoundCheck 24 contains a host of new features to cut test development time and get you making measurements faster. These include a new quick setup interface, a more streamlined calibration interface, faster multi-instrument configuration and expanded TCP/IP control. Advances in measurement capability include directivity plots and algorithm enhancements.
For automotive measurement, we’re showcasing our new low cost 6-microphone array, a new audio interface, a Bluetooth interface, and an automotive test kit that contains all the accessories you need to make TC-AA compliant in-car measurements. For headphone testing, we’re demonstrating a new low-cost 0.4cc high frequency coupler, and a headphone test fixture.
Steve Temme will be presenting a paper on automotive distortion measurements and a tutorial on frequency-normalized THD.
Practical Automotive Measurements – Novi, July 28
Location: Harman Novi, MI
Join us for an engaging and informative day of practical automotive measurements and training
In the morning Steve Temme will share the work of the AES Technical Committee on Automotive Audio (TC-AA) and their development of a white paper to standardize measurements of frequency response, Max. SPL and impulsive distortion. He will then delve deeper into some of the other audio characterization metrics that help develop a more complete picture of in-car audio quality. These include seat-to-seat spectral uniformity, Max SPL versus distortion and alternative methods for impulsive distortion measurements.
After a short break he will then present the equipment used for automotive measurements, introducing two new products from Listen – a low cost 6-microphone array, a new automotive audio interface, and an automotive test kit. A guest speaker will then explain the importance of measurement standardization and how this helps them optimize in-car audio quality.
After a networking lunch, we’ll head down to Harman’s automotive test bays to make the measurements discussed earlier and offer hands-on guidance in making these measurements.
There is no charge for this event, but registration is required and spaces are limited.
AES Automotive Conference – Detroit, July 29-31 2026
Join us in the AES Automotive conference in Detroit for the launch of three innovative new products designed to streamline your automotive acoustic testing. We will be unveiling:
- Halo 6 Microphone Array: Achieve TC-AA compliant measurements at a fraction of the cost of traditional hardware – and it’s packed with features to make setup faster and easier than ever.
- AudioConnect 6×2: Our new, compact, USB-C powered interface is custom-engineered for automotive audio measurements. It offers 6 input channels for precise data capture and SP/DIF output for seamless Bluetooth control.
- Automotive Test Kit: The complete, portable solution. We’ve bundled the AudioConnect 6×2, Halo 6 microphone array, 6 SCM microphones, a Bluetooth interface, and all necessary cables into a rugged, transport-ready case. Simply add SoundCheck for a comprehensive, professional-grade measurement system at a highly competitive price point.
Steve Temme will present a paper on Overcoming challenges of measuring distortion audibility in vehicles on Weds July 29 at 2:00pm in Hall C. In this paper he discusses the ongoing challenges of standardizing measurements and compares both the physical configurations and analysis methods and algorithms that can be used.
Stop by our booth to see these new tools in action – we look forward to seeing you there!
We are also holding a separate seminar and hands-on in-car measurement event in Novi, MI on July 28th! There is no charge for this event but spaces are limited and registration is required. Check out the details and register.
SoundCheck 24 Discounted Upgrades!
For a limited time we are offering deep discounts on a system upgrade to enable you to get up to date with the latest version of SoundCheck. Check out the pricing in the table below. All the modules on your present system will be included. Promotional pricing is valid till August 31st, 2026.
When you upgrade to the latest version of SoundCheck, the license is perpetual – in other words, you keep all the new features you have acquired for ever (or until you decide to upgrade to an even newer version). Please ask us if you have any questions about upgrade licensing!
SoundCheck® 24 offers usability upgrades to streamline your workflow, and upgraded capbilities:
- FastTrak – A new, streamlined interface for quick measurements with Listen audio interfaces accelerates the learning curve and offers rapid data collection and comparison without the overhead of full sequence development.
- Streamlined Calibration Interface – New Calibration Profiles and an updated calibration table simplify operation and increase flexibility when managing calibrated devices and signal paths across multiple test rooms, fixtures, operators, or measurement applications. New right-click functionality is also added
- New Directivity Plots (optional module 2011 required) – Directivity plots provide an advanced view of polar measurements, showing the complete frequency and angular response at a glance. They display frequency on the x-axis and angle on the y-axis, with color representing the measured level, and are fully synchronized with the conventional polar plot.
- Multi-Instrument Enhancements – Additions include a new Power Sum calculation to measure the overall level of a power-averaged spectrum in real time, a new Track Maximum cursor which automatically follows the dominant peak as it moves, and simpler handling of grouped measurements for faster test development.
- Enhanced Graph Legends and Curve Display – Graph legends may now be placed anywhere inside the graph area, allowing more screen space for the graph, while still keeping the legend visible, and curves can be toggled on and off right in the legend.
- Updated Harmonic Analysis Options – Harmonic output to the memory list can be suppressed, while still using the values in calculations. The range of harmonics used in calculation may also be restricted.
- Algorithm Enhancements, new TCP/IP commands, additional stimulus options, and more.
Upgrade from Version | Upgrade List Price | Promotional Upgrade Price | Discount |
18 | $9,923 | $4,465 | 55% |
19 | $8,269 | $4,383 | 47% |
20 | $6,615 | $3,638 | 45% |
21 | $4,961 | $2,827 | 43% |
22 | $3,308 | $2,812 | 15% |
23 | $1,654 | $1,538 | 7% |
If you are using a version prior to version 18, please contact your sales engineer for discounted price information.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Versions of SoundCheck prior to 19 are no longer supported. We highly recommend that you take advantage of this limited time offer to upgrade your systems to the latest version. Please contact your sales engineer to discuss additional multi-system upgrade discounts.
- If you have multiple systems with different purchase dates, we are happy to work with you to get them all upgraded to the latest version and onto the same annual support contract cycle.
- You can also reduce your future upgrade costs by purchasing an annual support contract for an additional $998. With this, you will receive SoundCheck 25 when it is released at no extra charge, as well as priority support service.
- Discounted upgrade prices are only available to registered owner of software, for their exclusive use.
Please note that these prices are applicable to the US only. Users outside the US should contact Listen or their local representative for pricing information.
Please email your purchase order to sales@listeninc.com. You can also contact us on this email address if you would like to pay by credit card, have any questions, or need additional paperwork to support your order.
Please also see the detailed information on new features.
Celebrating 30 years: Listening – The Secret Of Our Success
This year, we’re proudly celebrating 30 years of innovation at Listen, Inc.
Back in 1995, when human listeners were responsible for 95% of end-of-line audio tests, I set out to change the industry with software-based automated production line audio measurements. Little did I know that 30 years later we would have built a well respected and successful audio measurement company, spanning both R&D and production applications. I’m often asked what my advice would be to someone starting a company today. It’s simple, and ingrained in our culture and our name: Listen.
I’m writing this on a plane on my way home from a trip to Germany and Italy. Over the past ten days I’ve visited the High End Show in Munich, multiple automotive companies and infotainment integrators in Germany and Italy, and the Automotive Testing Expo in Stuttgart. During this time I’ve had conversations about audio measurements with many people. One of the highlights of my trip was an enlightening discussion on headphone target curves and ANC distortion with one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry, Axel Grell of Grell Acoustics, formerly of Sennheiser headphones. I received updates on the state of the industry from customers, publishers and trade organizations. I heard demonstrations of new and innovative audio products from both established and new companies. Automotive industry veterans shared their thoughts on the TC-AA recommendations for in-car testing. And while on customer visits, I demonstrated SoundCheck to new potential customers and listened to both their enthusiasm about what our products might do for them and, in some cases, their reservations.
Customers, both existing and prospective, are often surprised when the company president shows up with colleagues to what they assume is primarily a sales call, but to me it’s essential. In order to strategically plan our future product offerings, I need to understand what audio measurements our users are making and listen to what they tell me about their current and future needs. This drives our product roadmap to deliver what the market needs.
This year I’ve also hosted two specific focus groups, one in California and one in Denmark with what we call our “power users” – heavy users of our products who are pushing its boundaries with complex measurements or challenging connection requirements. At these meetings we demonstrated new features under development for feedback, and listened to their ‘wishes’ for future development. As usual we gained valuable insight, but the highlight of this year’s meeting for me was the enthusiastic reception to new features that had been suggested at a prior meeting.
I also regularly review our support tickets – the secret source of what our customers are thinking. While our support team deals with day-to-day customer questions, I’m not averse to jumping in where my specific knowledge enables me to come up with a creative solution – I enjoy the challenge! More importantly, hearing about people’s challenges tells me far more about how we need to improve your products than talking to those where everything is going smoothly. A case in point: the complexity of configuring 3rd party audio interfaces was what inspired us to develop our own range of plug-and-play hardware. Only when we know where the pain-points are, can we add new functionality to make it easier.
When I get back to the office, I’ll become my engineering team’s ‘most demanding customer’ for a couple of weeks as I participate in the final pre-release testing of SoundCheck 23. I’m in the process of writing a paper on ANC distortion measurement for a headphone conference, and I’m excited to explore how the new perceptual masking curves that we are introducing in the new release will enable me to take a deeper dive into audibility of distortion artifacts. After 10 days on the road, I’m excited to take a break from talking and listening and immerse myself once again in the R&D side of audio measurement!
So what does the future hold for Listen? 30 years ago I started Listen from the corner of my bedroom with an idea, a lot of enthusiasm, and many credit cards! We started with production testing but quickly expanded into the R&D space, as our customers saw the flexibility and forwards-compatibility of software based solutions in a laboratory environment. We have a 30 year track record of innovation in test methods, interfaces and algorithms that has allowed us to diversify from testing simple transducers to measuring communications devices, smart devices, car audio and more. Now, with over 25 employees and a custom-designed office and manufacturing space in Boston, we are firmly established as a global leader in audio measurements.
My colleagues, mentors, distributors and customers, past and present, have all played a valuable role in building Listen. As we head into our fourth decade, I’d like to thank all of them for their hard work and dedication to making our company what it is today. And as for my advice on staying in business for 30 years? Listen. Take every opportunity you can to hear what your customers and other industry experts are saying, and figure out what you can provide to help solve their challenges.
Automotive Test Sequence Including BSR, Max SPL and Frequency Response
We have a new automotive test sequence to measure Transient Distortion (also known as buzz, squeak, and rattle, Rub & Buzz, or impulsive distortion), Frequency Response, and Max SPL to the suggested measurement methods set out in the AES Technical Committee on Automotive Audio’s recently published white paper on in-car acoustic measurements. The three measurements are incorporated into one overall test sequence, making it fast and simple to run the entire suite of tests. This sequence facilitates evaluation of the committee’s proposals, and also serves as a basis for any similar in-house measurements. The white paper, which may be obtained from the TC-AA, outlines both measurement methods and physical configuration such as microphone and seat positioning in an effort to simplify comparison between vehicles.
Listen Introduces AudioConnect 2, a New Portable Dual-Channel Audio Interface
AudioConnect 2, Listen’s new compact and high resolution two-channel audio interface is designed for measurements anywhere from the production line to out in the field, and is particularly suitable for headphone testing. It features 2 input channels with a sampling rate up to 192 kHz, microphone power, TEDS support, a low-noise headphone amplifier, and two line outputs. It can be powered via a laptop’s USB-C for portability and for field measurements.
With up to 90kHz frequency range, its two input channels can be independently configured as TEDS-compatible microphone and accelerometer inputs with constant current bias, microphone inputs with constant voltage bias, or regular line-in. This makes it compatible with a wide range of transducers including both SCM and IEPE microphones, couplers, accelerometers and most modern head and torso simulators, including the high resolution Brüel and Kjær 5128. The inputs feature selectable 0/20dB input gain with level and overload indicators.
Two line outputs drive microspeakers and powered loudspeakers or mouth simulators, or control SC Amp (Listen’s audio amplifier) or other similar devices. A separate low noise, low distortion, headphone amplifier powers headphones or allows monitoring of the audio signal via wired headphones.
Designed for portability, AudioConnect 2 is just 4.375” wide x 1.8” high x 8.625” deep, and is powered from a laptop via USB-C, eliminating the need for a dedicated power supply. This makes it ideal for measurements outside the lab such as testing headphones and hearing aids in real-world environments and making in-car audio measurements. For additional functionality, the line powered BQC Bluetooth interface can be added to configure a fully portable Bluetooth headphone test system with both hardware devices running from your laptop’s USB power! A power supply is also included, making it equally suited to production environments where its rack-mount compatibility, ruggedness and competitive price point also ensure that it offers excellent value.
Like Listen’s other new interfaces, AudioConnect 2 is designed for seamless use with SoundCheck. Setup time is minimal as SoundCheck automatically configures the device, loads the factory-saved calibration values and automatically populates the input channels with sampling rate. Self-test requires no additional cabling as all switching is internal. There are no front panel controls; control is exclusively via the software – either through a sequence or a dedicated control panel. This eliminates any possibility of accidental change to the settings. Level and overload indicators ensure reliable results with a clear warning if the signal is near or actually clipping, and BNC connectors minimize the possibility of a cable becoming disconnected.
