Precedence Effect: Listening experiment images

A zip file containing three .png image files relating to a subjective speech-in-noise listening experiment conducted in the listening room at the University of Salford in March 2020. 

This experiment towards the PhD thesis by P. Demonte (2022) investigated whether or not the precedence effect could be utilised to significantly improve speech intelligibility for augmented loudspeaker arrays in the home, with future applications to media device orchestration with object-based audio. The experiment further explored binaural unmasking in terms of: i) binaural masking level difference (BMLD) and ii) the so-called better ear effect (BEE).

The listening experiment involved three different loudspeaker array configurations:

* L1 + R1 - a regular stereo configuration of two loudspeakers, with both simultaneously reproducing spoken dialogue and background noise;

* L1 + R1 + C2 - a three-loudspeaker array, with an auxiliary loudspeaker (C2) in the true centre position (0 degrees azimuth) between the L1 + R1 stereo pair. C2 just plays spoken dialogue with a 10ms delay to invoke the precedence effect and provide a boost to the speech signal. Equalisation is also applied to the C2 signal to negate differences in comb filtering effects between the two- and three-loudspeaker array configurations;

* L1 + R1 + R2 - a three-loudspeaker array, with the auxiliary loudspeaker (R2) at +90 degrees azimuth in order to test the better ear effect. As with L1 + R1 + C2, R2 just plays spoken dialogue with a 10ms delay, and equalisation is applied.

The images in this zip file show:

* MDO_Array_Listener.png - a photo showing the configuration of the four loudspeakers (for three different loudspeaker array configurations) and the seated listener position in the listening room for the experiment;

* MDO_configuration.png - a figure showing the loudspeaker array positions (distances and azimuths from the listener position);

* MDO_schematic.png - showing the differences between the two- and three-loudspeaker arrays in terms of boosts, delays, and equalisation applied.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

For further information, contact: 

email (1): p.demonte@edu.salford.ac.uk

email (2): philippademonte@gmail.com