AES E-Library

A Re-Examination of the S/N Question for Systems with Time Varying Gain or Frequency Response

A new definition of S/N is proposed in order to evaluate systems whose noise is a function of the signal, such as compressors, expanders, and dynamic noise filters. This new definition defines S/N as the ratio of short-term average signal-to-noise, instead of the usual definition of the maximum signal to the noise in the absence of signal. A pilot psychophysical investigation shows that a system need have only 52 dB S/N in order for the noise to remain undetectable. For wide dynamic-range classical music this translates into a ratio of 79 dB using the classical definition. The data also predict the optimum compander characteristics for noise reduction systems.

Authors: Blesser, Barry A.; Ives, Fred
Affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
AES Convention:42 (May 1972) Paper Number:853 Import into BibTeX

Click to purchase paper or login as an AES member. If your company or school subscribes to the E-Library then switch to the institutional version. If you are not an AES member and would like to subscribe to the E-Library then Join the AES!

This paper costs $20 for non-members, $5 for AES members and is free for E-Library subscribers.

Learn more about the AES E-Library

E-Library Location: (CD aes8)   /pp6975/pp7205/0819.pdf

Start a discussion about this paper!