The instrument accuracy limit for objectively measuring the loudness rating of telephone systems

This paper investigates a sensitivity measurement method for carbon transmitters and a calculation method for the loudness rating of a telephone system. The sensitivity varies depending on the artificial voice used for the measurement and the conditioning procedures. The most preferable methods for obtaining values which coincide with those in the subjective loudness rating test are discussed. With respect to the loudness calculation method, the algorithm, parameter values, ear leakage loss, and voice spectrum are discussed. As a result of these investigations, the deviation between the objective and subjective rating is found to be 0.7 dB for the various types of handset telephones when the measurement conditions are optimized. This deviation is considered to be the limit of measurement accuracy. The performance of currently developed objective measurement instruments is close to this limit. Considering the fluctuations accompanying repetitive subjective measurements, the objective rating corresponds satisfactorily with the subjective rating.