Performance and Limitations of Bone Conduction Headphones for Audio Augmented Reality Experiences: Perceptual Evaluation, Spatial Localization, and Immersion

Gozzi A, Thibault D, Traube C, Liuni M, Bella SD. Performance and Limitations of Bone Conduction Headphones for Audio Augmented Reality Experiences: Perceptual Evaluation, Spatial Localization, and Immersion. In: 2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology. Audio Engineering Society; 2025. Paper 16. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22942

@inproceedings{Gozzi2025_22942,
  author = {Gozzi, Andrea and Thibault, Dominic and Traube, Caroline and Liuni, Marco and Bella, Simone Dalla},
  title = {{Performance and Limitations of Bone Conduction Headphones for Audio Augmented Reality Experiences: Perceptual Evaluation, Spatial Localization, and Immersion}},
  booktitle = {2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology},
  note = {Paper 16},
  year = {2025},
  month = aug,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22942}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Performance and Limitations of Bone Conduction Headphones for Audio Augmented Reality Experiences: Perceptual Evaluation, Spatial Localization, and Immersion
AU  - Gozzi, Andrea
AU  - Thibault, Dominic
AU  - Traube, Caroline
AU  - Liuni, Marco
AU  - Bella, Simone Dalla
T2  - 2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology
M1  - Paper 16
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/08/18
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22942
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - Bone conduction headphones (BCHs) transmit audio via skull vibrations, enabling auditory perception while maintaining environmental awareness. These features make BCHs particularly effective for audio augmented reality (AAR) experiences. Originally developed as medical devices, modern BCHs are increasingly integrated into Extended Reality (XR) applications, electroacoustic performances, and sound installations. This paper presents a series of experimental tests to evaluate the perceptual performance and immersive potential of BCHs. Different BCHs models were examined, and air conduction leakage was assessed. Participants were asked to: (1) discriminate between sounds emitted via BCHs and loudspeakers; (2) localize stimuli under different spatial rendering conditions (a 94-loudspeaker spherical array, BCHs with binaural rendering using generic HRTFs, and BCHs reproducing binaural recordings); (3) adjust tone levels for audibility in noise to determine frequency-specific thresholds; and (4) detect the smallest perceivable motion trajectories in azimuth and elevation. A post-test questionnaire evaluated participants degree of perceived immersion and engagement. Results provide valuable insights for designing multilayered AAR experiences and support the use of BCHs as creative tools in electroacoustic performances and sound design.
ER  -