A modern metric for acoustic clarity in critical listening environments

Abstract

Characteristics of acoustics in small rooms have become less mysterious, more predictable and measurements more common than in past decades. Modern metrics for characterizing the acoustical performance of critical listening environments have not followed the recent predictive improvements. An Acoustic Clarity metric with a variable time window (Rear Reflection Clarity, CRR) is proposed for small (under approximately 200m3) critical listening environments such as recording studio control, mastering, film post, screening, audiophile listening, and similar rooms. The variable time window is defined by the arrival time difference between direct sound and the reflection from the rear wall, which is typically the strongest reflection and is opposite the on-axis response of the loudspeakers. Measured impulse response data collected in situ is presented and analyzed as case studies to characterize CRR. For simplicity, this presentation will focus on only the stereo components of surround-sound environments.