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In-Car Audio Measurements

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This sequence tests the impulsive distortion, frequency response, and maximum sound pressure level of a vehicle infotainment system to the methods outlined in the Audio Engineering Society Technical Committee on Automotive Audio (TC-AA) in-vehicle measurements white paper. This white paper aims to define repeatable and defined car audio system measurements and in addition to the measurement methods, contains information on standardized test configuration, for example microphone and seat positioning. Please contact the TC-AA for more information on this project. This test sequence may, of course, be used with your own in-house physical configuration if adherence to the TC-AA guidelines is not essential.

This sequence includes one master sequence, three subsequences, plus a level check subsequence for calibration. The three individual subsequence tests have also been included in a separate folder so they may be run standalone. The standalone sequences each have their own Bluetooth connect and disconnect steps.

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Hearing Aid Frequency Response Test Sequence

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This sequence follows the ANSI S3.22-1996 standard method for testing the frequency response of a hearing aid. An equalized stepped sine sweep from 8 kHz – 200 Hz is played at a level of 60 dBSPL through the anechoic box speaker, and the output of the hearing aid is analyzed with the Heterodyne algorithm to produce a frequency response. Next, the HFA (High Frequency Average) is calculated by averaging the response values at three frequencies (1000, 1600, 2500 Hz). The HFA is then subtracted by 20 dB. Two post processing steps are used to find the upper and lower frequency points at which the response curve intersects this calculated value (HFA – 20 dB). These are the high and low frequency cutoff points.

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Release Time Hearing Aid Test Sequence

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This sequence follows the ANSI S3.22-1996 standard method for testing the release time of AGC (automatic gain control) hearing aids. A 2 kHz sine tone is played at 90 dBSPL for 1 second and then immediately drops to 55 dBSPL for 2 more seconds. A band limited time envelope (1.5-2.5 kHz) is created and then run through a post processing step, which calculates the release time. It does this by calculating the time it takes the device to stabilize within 4 dB of its steady level.

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Complete Test Sequence

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The purpose of this sequence is to perform a full suite of basic measurements for a loudspeaker. A 500 mV stepped sine sweep from 20 kHz to 50 Hz is played through the speaker and measured via two channels of the audio interface. A calibrated reference microphone is connected to one of the channels, and an impedance reference is connected to the other.

A HarmonicTrak™ analysis step analyzes the recorded waveform from the reference microphone, and outputs frequency response, THD, Rub & Buzz, and various harmonic curves. A second analysis step analyzes the waveform from the impedance reference and outputs a curve of impedance versus frequency. A post processing step is used to estimate the characteristics of the impedance curve and calculates the max impedance, resonance frequency, and the Q of the resonance peak.

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Bluetooth Headset Test Sequence

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The purpose of this sequence is to test a Bluetooth headset using a mixture of analog and digital channels. First, a Multitone stimulus is created with SoundCheck, played back over the Bluetooth headset (at 8 kHz) and recorded by a head and torso simulator’s ear (at 44.1 kHz). Then the same Multitone stimulus is played back through the head and torso’s mouth simulator (at 44.1 kHz) and recorded via the Bluetooth headset (at 8 kHz).

Due to inaccuracies of clock frequency, the Bluetooth device playback sampling rate is often slightly different than it is specified. Therefore, in SoundCheck, the Recorded Time Waveforms are frequency shifted to correct for the inaccurate sampling rate. The exact device playback sampling rate is displayed.

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Headphones Test Sequence

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The purpose of this sequence is to test a stereo headphone. Both left and right earphones are measured simultaneously using a standard 1/12th Octave stepped-sine sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

The analysis is then performed using Listen’s HarmonicTrak™ algorithm that measures harmonic distortion and fundamental frequency response simultaneously. Then the diffuse-field and free-field corrected Fundamentals are calculated. The diffuse-field correction curve compensates for the overall frequency response from the diffuse-field (sound in every direction) to the eardrum and includes the effects of the head, torso, pinna, ear-canal and ear simulator. The free-field correction curve compensates for the overall frequency response from the free-field (sound at 0 degree incidence to the nose of the Head and Torso Simulator – HATS) to the eardrum.

Further post-processing of the signal compares left and right earphone responses to show the difference curve (magnitude and phase are available). The average sensitivity from 100 to 10 kHz for both left and right earphone is calculated and the total harmonic distortion displayed.

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