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F. Denk, H. Schepker, S. Doclo, and B. Kollmeier, "Acoustic Transparency in Hearables—Technical Evaluation," J. Audio Eng. Soc., vol. 68, no. 7/8, pp. 508-521, (2020 July.). doi: https://doi.org/10.17743/jaes.2020.0042 F. Denk, H. Schepker, S. Doclo, and B. Kollmeier, "Acoustic Transparency in Hearables—Technical Evaluation," J. Audio Eng. Soc., vol. 68 Issue 7/8 pp. 508-521, (2020 July.). doi: https://doi.org/10.17743/jaes.2020.0042
Abstract: An increasing number of earphones and other hearing devices contain functionalities that are based on a so-called hear-through feature, which allows the user to hear the acoustic environment through the device. Ideally, the user would perceive the hear-through sound identical to listening with the open ear, which is referred to as acoustic transparency. In technical terms, this means that the sound transmission to the eardrum should be as similar as possible between the open ear and through the device. In this study, we evaluate the acoustic transparency of the hear-through feature of seven commercial hearables as well as two research hearing devices by means of technical measurements on a dummy head. A variety of artefacts, including frequency response deviations, comb filtering artefacts, and destruction of spatial cues, were revealed and quantified, and surprisingly large differences between current devices are noted. The corresponding subjective sound quality has been assessed in a companion study.

@article{denk2020acoustic,
author={denk, florian and schepker, henning and doclo, simon and kollmeier, birger},
journal={journal of the audio engineering society},
title={acoustic transparency in hearables—technical evaluation},
year={2020},
volume={68},
number={7/8},
pages={508-521},
doi={https://doi.org/10.17743/jaes.2020.0042},
month={july},} @article{denk2020acoustic,
author={denk, florian and schepker, henning and doclo, simon and kollmeier, birger},
journal={journal of the audio engineering society},
title={acoustic transparency in hearables—technical evaluation},
year={2020},
volume={68},
number={7/8},
pages={508-521},
doi={https://doi.org/10.17743/jaes.2020.0042},
month={july},
abstract={an increasing number of earphones and other hearing devices contain functionalities that are based on a so-called hear-through feature, which allows the user to hear the acoustic environment through the device. ideally, the user would perceive the hear-through sound identical to listening with the open ear, which is referred to as acoustic transparency. in technical terms, this means that the sound transmission to the eardrum should be as similar as possible between the open ear and through the device. in this study, we evaluate the acoustic transparency of the hear-through feature of seven commercial hearables as well as two research hearing devices by means of technical measurements on a dummy head. a variety of artefacts, including frequency response deviations, comb filtering artefacts, and destruction of spatial cues, were revealed and quantified, and surprisingly large differences between current devices are noted. the corresponding subjective sound quality has been assessed in a companion study.},}

TY - paper
TI - Acoustic Transparency in Hearables—Technical Evaluation
SP - 508 EP - 521
AU - Denk, Florian
AU - Schepker, Henning
AU - Doclo, Simon
AU - Kollmeier, Birger
PY - 2020
JO - Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
IS - 7/8
VO - 68
VL - 68
Y1 - July 2020 TY - paper
TI - Acoustic Transparency in Hearables—Technical Evaluation
SP - 508 EP - 521
AU - Denk, Florian
AU - Schepker, Henning
AU - Doclo, Simon
AU - Kollmeier, Birger
PY - 2020
JO - Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
IS - 7/8
VO - 68
VL - 68
Y1 - July 2020
AB - An increasing number of earphones and other hearing devices contain functionalities that are based on a so-called hear-through feature, which allows the user to hear the acoustic environment through the device. Ideally, the user would perceive the hear-through sound identical to listening with the open ear, which is referred to as acoustic transparency. In technical terms, this means that the sound transmission to the eardrum should be as similar as possible between the open ear and through the device. In this study, we evaluate the acoustic transparency of the hear-through feature of seven commercial hearables as well as two research hearing devices by means of technical measurements on a dummy head. A variety of artefacts, including frequency response deviations, comb filtering artefacts, and destruction of spatial cues, were revealed and quantified, and surprisingly large differences between current devices are noted. The corresponding subjective sound quality has been assessed in a companion study.