An algorithm for customized audio equalization andtransparency mode

Nielsen O. An algorithm for customized audio equalization andtransparency mode. In: 2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology. Audio Engineering Society; 2025. Paper 18. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22944

@inproceedings{Nielsen2025_22944,
  author = {Nielsen, Ole},
  title = {{An algorithm for customized audio equalization andtransparency mode}},
  booktitle = {2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology},
  note = {Paper 18},
  year = {2025},
  month = aug,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22944}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - An algorithm for customized audio equalization andtransparency mode
AU  - Nielsen, Ole
T2  - 2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology
M1  - Paper 18
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/08/18
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22944
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - The presence of an ear bud drastically modifies the acoustics of an ear canal, and audio played through the ear bud tends to have entirely the wrong acoustic signature compared to what the user is familiar with. A one size fits all audio equalization (EQ) is often applied to remedy the situation and attempt to restore the open canal resonances, but every ear canal is unique, and so is the required correction to make it right. This results in a number of users finding the sound unnatural. In active noise reduction (ANR) ear buds, a measurement can be made of the ear canal using the speaker and feedback microphone, and we present a novel algorithm that converts this measurement into an estimate of the unoccluded ear acoustics. The result is a customized EQ that significantly improves the ability to give each customer the intended audio response as well as a more natural transparency mode, a common feature in ANR wearables. Measurements of subjects in a laboratory show a decrease in the error relative to the ideal response.
ER  -