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Subjective Preference of Modal Control Methods in Listening Rooms

Room modes are well known to cause unwanted effects in the correct reproduction of low frequencies in critical listening rooms. Methods to control these problems range from simple loudspeaker/listener positioning to quite complex digital signal processing. Nonetheless, the subjective importance and impact of these methods has rarely been quantified subjectively. A number of simple control methods have been implemented in an IEC standard listening environment. 8 different configurations were setup in the room simultaneously and could therefore be tested in direct comparison to each other. A panel of 20 listeners was asked to state their preferred configuration using the method of paired comparison. Results show clear winners and losers, indicating an informed strategy for efficient control.

Authors: Elmer, Lucy A.; Fazenda, Bruno; Hargreaves, Jonathan A.; Hirst, Jonathan M.; Wankling, Matthew
Affiliation: University of Salford, Salford, UK
AES Convention:129 (November 2010) Paper Number:8312 Import into BibTeX
Subject:Room Acoustics

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