Perceptually relevant parameters for virtual listening simulation of small room acoustics

Area of Science:

• Acoustics
• Psychoacoustics
• Virtual Reality

Background:

• Extensive research exists on physical room-acoustic simulation, but perceptual attributes remain underexplored.
• Evaluating perceptual similarity between simulated and real acoustic environments is crucial for immersive experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a method for assessing the perceptual similarity of room-acoustic simulations.
• To identify key perceptual dimensions differentiating simulated acoustic environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 15 small-room simulations based on binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs).
• Varied room size, surface absorption, and employed individualized head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for spatial rendering.
• Applied multidimensional scaling analysis to perceptual data.

Main Results:

• Perceptual similarity was primarily determined by two dimensions: reverberation time (T(60)) and interaural coherence (IACC).
• Simulated rooms showed minor perceptual differences from measured rooms, correctable by adjusting T(60) and IACC.
• Individualized HRTFs provided no significant advantage over non-individualized HRTFs for fixed source directions.

Conclusions:

• Reverberation time and interaural coherence are critical for perceptual realism in room-acoustic simulations.
• Acoustic modeling can effectively approximate real room perception with adjustments to T(60) and IACC.
• Individualized HRTFs are not essential for improving perceptual similarity in this context.