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Convention Paper

Frequency Response Adaptation in Binaural Hearing

Authors: Griesinger, David

AES Convention 126 · Paper 7768 · May 2009

Abstract

The pinna and ear canals act as listening trumpets to concentrate sound pressure on the eardrum. This concentration is strongly frequency dependent, typically showing a rise in pressure of 20dB at 3000Hz. In addition, diffraction and reflections from the pinna substantially alter the frequency response of the eardrum pressure as a function of the direction of a sound source. In spite of these large departures from flat response, listeners usually report that a uniform pink power spectrum sounds frequency balanced, and loudspeakers are manufactured to this standard. But on close listening frontal pink noise does not sound uniform. The ear clearly uses adaptive correction of timbre to achieve these results. This paper discusses and demonstrates the properties and limits of this adaptation. The results are important for our experience of live music in halls, and in reproduction of music through loudspeakers and headphones.

Details

Published in
AES Convention 126
AES Convention
126
Paper number
7768
Publication date
May 6, 2009
Session subject
Microphones and Headphones
Affiliation
Cambridge, MA, USA (See document for exact affiliation information.)
Type
Convention Paper