Significance of representing torso and individualized head location in HRTF

Johansson J, Malinen M, Mäkivirta A. Significance of representing torso and individualized head location in HRTF. In: AES Conference: AES 2024 International Audio for Games Conference. Audio Engineering Society; 2024. Paper 20. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22399

@inproceedings{Johansson2024_22399,
  author = {Johansson, Jaan and Malinen, Matti and Mäkivirta, Aki},
  title = {{Significance of representing torso and individualized head location in HRTF}},
  booktitle = {AES Conference: AES 2024 International Audio for Games Conference},
  note = {Paper 20},
  year = {2024},
  month = apr,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22399}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Significance of representing torso and individualized head location in HRTF
AU  - Johansson, Jaan
AU  - Malinen, Matti
AU  - Mäkivirta, Aki
T2  - AES Conference: AES 2024 International Audio for Games Conference
M1  - Paper 20
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/04/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22399
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - The significance of torso representation in a head-related transfer function (HRTF) is studied in this work. The Kemar HATS head position is modified in forward-backward and up-down directions according to the actual distribution of the human head location relative to the torso, and these are compared to the absence of torso to understand the audibility of the torso in the HRTF for different head positions. The spectral difference due to the absence of torso can exceed 1 dB in all sound arrival azimuth directions while the spectral difference decreases with increasing source elevation. The forward-backward head location has the strongest influence in the HRTF change. The importance of various areas on the torso reflecting sound is studied. A subjective listening test with personal HRTF demonstrates that the absence of torso is audible as sound colour and source location changes.
ER  -