Relative distance perception of a position-dynamic nearby virtual sound source

Li Y, Preihs S, Peissig J. Relative distance perception of a position-dynamic nearby virtual sound source. In: AES Conference: AES 2023 International Conference on Spatial and Immersive Audio. Audio Engineering Society; 2023. Paper 20. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22198

@inproceedings{Li2023_22198,
  author = {Li, Yuqing and Preihs, Stephan and Peissig, Jürgen},
  title = {{Relative distance perception of a position-dynamic nearby virtual sound source}},
  booktitle = {AES Conference: AES 2023 International Conference on Spatial and Immersive Audio},
  note = {Paper 20},
  year = {2023},
  month = aug,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22198}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Relative distance perception of a position-dynamic nearby virtual sound source
AU  - Li, Yuqing
AU  - Preihs, Stephan
AU  - Peissig, Jürgen
T2  - AES Conference: AES 2023 International Conference on Spatial and Immersive Audio
M1  - Paper 20
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/08/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22198
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - We conducted a psychophysical experiment on the perception of distance change of a continuously moving virtual source in the near field. The virtual source was rendered with two sets of generic near-field HRTFs with high distance resolution: one from direct measurement, and the other synthesized by a numerical method based on a structural model, namely the distance variation function (DVF). The aims of the experiment were to investigate how the continuous variation of near-field cues delivered by the virtual source affects the subjects’ relative distance perception and whether the measured HRTFs ensure better performance in relative distance perception than the synthesized ones. Subjects participated in a listening test in which they had to decide whether the virtual source was approaching or moving away. Results indicate that perception of source distance change was possible when only variations in near-field cues were present, while distance-related intensity changes were absent. The measured near-field HRTFs outperformed the synthesized ones under certain conditions, but overall no significant advantage was found by using the measured generic HRTFs for relative distance perception. Distance-dependent variation in HRTF magnitude was found to play an important role in relative distance discrimination of the nearby virtual source.
ER  -